Skin Cancer Treatments-What Can You Do.. is a post from: Skin Cancer Information

No one wants to hear the dreaded word “cancer” in their lifetime. Unfortunately, it is becoming an all too common disease that is diagnosed in thousands of people each year. Skin cancer is one of the leading cancers diagnosed each year. This is partly due to the fact that many people just do not believe it could ever happen to them. Most people are not consistent with putting on sunscreen when they go about their daily activities either. They may use it at the beach, but for the rest of the year they ignore the sun as they travel about their life. This is why skin cancer treatment are becoming a popular topic as more and more people realize that this disease is becoming more common and increasingly dangerous.

Skin cancer is created when we are exposed to too much UV light from the sun’s rays. Over time, this causes our cells to divide in an irregular way. As these cells multiply at a rapid pace, they can form cancerous tumors that may cause a discoloration on your skin. Most skin cancers are extremely treatable when caught early. However, some people ignore the warning signs for months or years only to find out later that they could have treated it easily had they just seen a dermatologist.

If you or someone you know find out they have skin cancer, then they need to understand the skin cancer treatments that are available now. Of course, one should always consult with their doctor for more information.

* Surgery is one major option that a lot of people take. It is a very common procedure to have skin cancers removed. If the tumor is small, it can likely be removed using local anesthesia. Larger tumors or discolorations may require skin grafting where healthy skin is taken from another area of the body. If the cancer has spread into the surrounding lymph nodes, they may also need to be removed.
* Cryotherapy: This treatment is one where the cancerous cells are frozen with liquid nitrogen. This is highly effective with an early stage skin cancer, but not possible when the cancer is more advanced.
* Radiotherapy: This treatment consists of using high-energy radiation to kill or shrink cancerous cells. It can be used as an alternative to regular surgery as it results in no scarring. It may also be used after surgery to kill off any remaining cancerous cells to reduce the chances of the cancer returning. After this treatment, many people report feeling a bit ill as if they have the flu, but that typically passes fairly quickly.

Hearing the words “skin cancer” is a jolt that no one wants to feel, but it does not necessarily mean anything fatal. If treated early, this type of cancer is highly curable due to the advanced technologies available today. It is recommended that everyone see a dermatologist regularly to be checked out for possible areas of concern to avoid having to have skin cancer treatments in the future.

We all know that we need to keep an eye on skin and be cautious with moles, freckles or spots. But what exactly are we looking for?
While nothing will replace the expertise of your doctor and you should always get any new growth checked out, there are some signs that may indicate it is melanoma skin cancer. Doctors often use an ABCDE scale:
1) Asymmetrical: a spot is more likely to be melanoma if it is asymmetrical. Most benign moles and freckles tend to have a uniform shape.
2) Blurred outline: the outline of the spot tends to merge gradually with the rest of your skin
3) Color variations: the outer edges tend to be varying shades or black, brown or blue
4) Diameter : more than 6 millimeters is usual
5) Elevation or enlargement: it is slightly raised or has become larger in size.
Although it is a useful list of symptoms it doesn’t cover every type of lesion. Your local skin cancer center should have leaflets available which explain in more detail the other symptoms that you could look for. It is wise to go see your medical advisor if there is any change in color, shape or size or if your skin feels different or starts becoming inflamed, bleeding or crusting over. Alternatively if you have a spot that just won’t heal, this could also be skin cancer and should be brought to the attention of medical staff. Prevention is much better than trying to cure this disease and your local cancer center will be happy to put your fears to rest.
So what does skin cancer screening involve? If your doctor suspects melanoma he will arrange for an excision biopsy to be carried out. The whole lesion is removed along with some normal skin around it and examined in a lab. Before this happens, he could arrange for you to have skin surface imaging which will reveal the details of changes in the appearance of the skin. Some of the more advanced skin cancer centers have computerized systems that can examine photographs of lesions and compare them to pictures or cancerous and non cancerous growths in order to make a diagnosis. This is a very advanced system and is rarely wrong.
When the lesion is removed, the surgeon will also remove some healthy tissue around the lesion. This is to ensure that no malignant cells are left behind which could spread the disease further in your body. But it is a delicate procedure as they cannot remove too much tissue in case the lesion is malignant as this will make treatment more difficult. If it is found to be skin cancer, the pathologist will report on the type, thickness and whether there is ulceration or not. The treatment you will have to undergo will depend to a large extent on the pathology findings. The cancer is staged from 1 to 4 with 4 being the most dangerous and difficult to cure.

There are three forms of cancer of the skin or skin cancer and the most dangerous of all is a cancer in the melancytes. Skin cancer in the melancytes manifests itself as a tumor in those cells that produce melanin which is a substance which helps to colour your skin.

When it comes to the skin cancer malignant melanoma, it means that the cells which decide what color your skin, eyes and hair is, and how easily you tan, develop abnormal characteristics and a colored mole for instance may begin to change shape or color.

It is also possible for malignant melanoma to affect the choroids of the eye, which is the layer just behind the retina. It does not hurt, but it can cause blurred vision and other problems with your vision as it can cause a detached retina. Malignant melanoma is the most common form of eye tumor.

You should know that less than one of three instances of the skin cancer malignant melanoma appears in existing moles. And surprisingly (because they look so awful), hairy moles hardly ever turn into malignant melanomas.

It is very important to get moles that are changing shape etc checked out by your medical doctor as soon as possible because as the cancer tumor from the malignant melanoma starts to get deeper into the skin the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body increases dramatically. (This is known as spread).

The key to successful treatment of a cancer like malignant melanoma is early detection of the cancer symptoms, so consider checking your skin regularly and at least once every 3 months and maybe more frequently during the summer months.

Let us also have quick look at the most common symptoms of malignant melanoma. If a mole appears to change shape, develop irregular outline, change in size, getting bigger and sticking out more, changing in color, irregular coloring as different shades of brown, grey, red or blue, a mole that develops a halo or another mole around the original one, itching, painful or bleeding moles, moles that get softer or begin to crumble, then you need to see a medical doctor about it straight away.

Malignant melanomas are most common in areas that receive the most exposure to the sun but it can show up in any location on your body. For people with fair skin the risk areas are the upper part of the back, and for women there is an added risk are on the legs between the knee and the ankle.

Darker skinned people get malignant melanomas very rarely but when they do appear they usually appear on the soles of the feet or on the palms. It is also possible to get malignant melanomas behind the nails of the fingers and the toes.

The key to avoiding malignant melanoma in the first place is to use sun protection and avoid direct sunlight in the middle of the day if at all possible. Another important thing you can do to protect yourself or your young children is to wear clothes that cover up the parts of the body that are at risk. Getting a malignant melanoma is no fun, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

There are many reasons that one may become afflicted with skin cancer. A person’s heredity, skin type and UV exposure are all things to take under consideration when properly weighing the risk of skin cancer. However, more and more, skin cancer cases are being diagnosed at an increasing rate. Could this be due to lifestyle changes? It’s possible, but not altogether a confident hypothesis. One thing that may be increasing our risk for skin cancer is the condition of our planet.

The O-zone layer is a crucial part of our atmosphere. Consisting of triple-bonds of oxygen, this layer found on our planet helps to decrease the amount of ultra-violet rays that hit our surface. This layer, while key to our survival, is under attack by our very way of life. Pollution and climate change has eliminated as much as fifty percent of the higher layers of the O-zone layer, causing concern among scientists.

Approximately thirty percent of the crucial layer in its entirety has already been destroyed. Since the depletion of the O-zone layer has reached epic proportions, more and more cases of skin cancer are being diagnosed. The Environment Program of the United Nations has even put out an estimate that for every one percent of the ozone layer we lose, there will be a two to three percent rise in the average person’s chance of getting skin cancer. For this reason, it’s important to take every precaution that you can when exposing yourself to the increasingly dangerous rays of the sun.

If you’re not out looking for a tan, cover up the best you can and wear a hat. Thin layers of clothing do little to prevent the transmission of UV rays, so be sure to wear tightly woven clothing, preferably dark in color. In addition to the risks presented to humans by the destruction of the O-zone layer, plants are affected by the increased UV rays as well. Studies conducted in Tierra del Fuego correlated an increased risk of DNA damage to plants that received higher levels of ultra-violet exposure.

So, what can you do personally to help prevent further depletion of the O-zone layer? Unfortunately, as one person, there’s little that you can do. Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were discovered to cause damage to the O-zone layer over a decade ago and are now banned, making the individual’s contribution to the destruction of the O-zone layer severely lessened. Most of the damage to the O-zone layer being done now is due to the illegal use of stockpiled CFC products and HCFC products, which similarly damage the O-zone layer and will be phased out by most nations by 2015. The O-zone layer may begin to mend itself, but this is not expected to happen for the next 10 to 15 years, if it happens at all. To that end, all that you can really do is protect yourself from the sun’s rays and hope that corporate responsibility is present in those that would damage the planet that gives us all life.

Skin cancer is defined as ‘a malignant neoplasm of the skin’. The most common cancer, the risk of skin cancer affects a large cross section of the population, most notably those that have fair skin and freckles. Consequently, it is also relatively preventable when you take the proper precautions. Simply put, skin cancer is often caused by an over-exposure of the body to ultra-violet rays. It doesn’t matter where these rays come from; both the sun and commercial tanning beds give you a heightened risk of developing skin cancer.

To most easily prevent your chance of getting this disease, it’s important to take the proper precautions when exposing yourself to the sun. When possible, wear clothing that is tightly woven to avoid the suns rays. A loose fit on your clothes is another way to ensure that as few rays as possible reach your skin. Dark colored clothing is also known to help ward off ultra-violet rays, so all of these precautions should be taken when you are planning to be in the sun for an extended period of time. Also, it is crucial to wear sun screen when exposing your body to the sun’s rays. An SPF value of at least 15 is recommended for those who wish to sun themselves without significantly increasing their risk of developing skin cancer.

Also, do your best to avoid exposing yourself to the sun’s rays between 10 AM and 3 PM. These are the hours of the day in which the sun produces the most UV rays, and avoiding sun during these hours is recommended to decrease your likelihood of skin cancer. Your lips should also be protected with an SPF lip balm, since the risk of lip cancer is increased by too much sun exposure. Sunglasses can also be a good idea; they help you to avoid getting too much exposure to the sun on your eyelids, which are sensitive layers of skin which can develop skin cancer just the same as the rest of your body.
There are three types of skin cancer: the two that are most harmless are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. When these cancers are discovered, it is usually possible to treat them without much of a risk, with a full 90% of all carcinomas diagnoses being treated properly. However, there is another, more deadly type of skin cancer, which is known as malignant melanoma.

This type of skin cancer can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs and the liver, and can be very difficult to treat. While this cancer can be removed with a high success rate when caught early, advanced cases of melanoma can be very difficult to treat. Melanoma accounts for a full 75% of all skin cancer cases which result in death. If melanoma is diagnosed while in an early stage, treatment can be very simple and the risk of death is low. However, the longer you wait, the more exponential the risk of death grows.

A new study from the United Kingdom proves that tea might be for more than just drinking. Not only that but also this beverage may have properties in it that can save your life. Although only in the animal testing stage this new research is looking like it may already have some very positive results. The feeling is that tea as a lotion may be able to stop the damage done to skin by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Drinking the tea could give the same benefits to the patient as using the lotion but the patient would have to drink at least ten cups daily.

Both black and green teas contain polyphenols. These polyphenols seem to somehow block the body’s ability to make skin cancer of the non-melanoma type. The important part of this research is that the polyphenols seem to do this after the skin has been exposed to too much sunlight. The studies have shown the scientists that the polyphenols hamper an enzyme called JNK-2 and prevent it from helping the development of the cancerous growths. Somehow, though they are not completely sure why, JNK-2 plays a pivotal, role in tumor development. When the skin is continuously in the sun in an unprotected state the JNK-2 levels rise and stay higher in the skin that was exposed. In areas with higher levels of JNK-2 the risks for skin cancer are much higher.

Experiments on mice showed that polyphenols, when put directly on the skin with the higher levels of JNK-2, quickly lowered these levels. At the same time this appears to have blocked damage to the skin. The researchers feel this is a big step. They believe they may have found the key to blocking the skin from developing skin cancer caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Since a person would have to drink at least ten cups a day of black or green tea to get enough value from the polyphenols the ability to make this into a cream of lotion and apply it directly to the skin is a big step. Its also believed it is more effective when it’s applied directly to the skin.

There are even suggestions of putting this into sunscreen to block the sun and protect the skin at the same time. This would be like an intense protection plan for everyone who cared to try it. Unfortunately, trials on humans are still a few years away. So even though this lotion could be a reality it may be another ten years before its available to the public. Another interesting thing that researchers have found, but only with green tea, is that it also contains a lot of antioxidants and these may also help prevent skin cancer. They destroy free radicals that are believed harm the cells.

There are other creams that make claims to do wonderful things for a variety of skins cancers. Most have not undergone proper human testing and so are better stayed away from until they can prove their worth.

One of the most common cancers in the world today is skin cancers, or more accurately, there are three forms of cancer of the skin, as there are 3 main types of skin cancer.

The most common, and least dangerous is a so called rodent ulcer, or basal cell carcinoma, followed by the skin cancer called Squamous cell carcinoma and finally we have what I would consider to be the most well known form of skin cancer, which while it is the most lethal is also the rarest; malignant melanoma.

Although malignant melanoma is the rarest, because it is the deadliest, it is worth having a quick look at what it is. This cancer that is responsible for about 1 per cent of cancers is a tumor in the cells that create melanin, the melancytes. In case you wanted to know, melanin is the pigment that gives you your sun tan, and gives your skin the color it has normally. It is also responsible for the color of your eyes and your hair, which means that malignant melanoma, can also affect the eyes and not just the skin.

It is comforting to know that at least for now, skin melanomas are very uncommon in children, but because half of all the sun exposure the skin gets happens before the age of 18, and the time it needs to develop, it is critical to prevent your children from getting sunburns.

With growing pollution, diminishing ozone layer and more knowledge of what UV rays can actually do, there is a growing realization that sun exposure can be very bad for us and that we need to protect ourselves from these ultra violet lights. It is very clear that it is the sun that is causing the problems as the number of people with skin cancer varies depending on country, the tropical countries with large Caucasian populations having the highest incidents of skin cancer. Countries like Australia, South Africa and southern American states with a lot of sunshine and Caucasian population have skin cancer incidences that are directly proportionate with the amount of sunlight and size of the Caucasian population.

Darker skin types like those of us with an African American or Asian background get better protection against the sunlight because of their darker skin coloring.

Ultra violet light is part of the sunshine and it is that light that is causing the problem. UV light come in different types, but they are all essentially bad for pale skin, and particularly babies and children are very much at risk because they have thinner skin than adults.

The instances of skin cancer have doubled every 10 years for the last 40 years. This ties in with when cheap vacations to sunnier climates were introduced and now that they are more widely available and sunbathing is such a popular past time, skin cancer instances are set to continue this rise unless people begin to take the necessary precautions to prevent getting burnt by the hot ultra violet rays from the sun.

Skin Cancer and Our Pets

We worry about getting skin cancer for ourselves, our partners and our children, but perhaps we should also be worrying about the prospect of our pets contracting this potentially deadly disease. Most people would be surprised to learn that the pet dog or cat they love so much is also susceptible and care must be taken when they are outside as well. This means that during peak sun shining hours it’s best not to put your dog outside for too long. Make sure there is a shaded spot in their area.

Although not all of our pet’s skin cancer is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays a certain percentage of it definitely is. When it comes to the reasons that dogs and cats develop skin cancer the sun is only one answer. Other reasons include hormones, viruses, burns, inoculations and a genetic predisposition to skin cancer. This last reason is just like humans who have more risk for skin cancer because it runs in the family.

Just like fair skinned blond humans are more at risk so are light colored dogs and cats. White dogs and cats would be at the higher end of the risk scale. As well, any places where the animal has particularly thin hair are danger spots. This would be the stomach, or inside of the hind legs for dogs and the ear tips, pink noses and around the eyes for cats. Also either cats or dogs whose breeds are hairless. They have no protection from the sun’s rays. The dog breeds most at risk for skin cancer include dalmatians, pit bulls, pull terriers and pointers. Interestingly, when skin cancer attacks dalmatians it is only the white areas that are affected. The cancer is known to go around the black spots.

Like humans skin cancer usually hits later in life. So, once your dog or cat has reached around nine years old it is best to begin check-ups every six months. If it’s found early enough your pet will have a better survival rate. But that is not enough. A lot can happen in six months. It’s important for you as a pet owner to be aware of how your dog or cat normally behaves. If they are in pain or discomfort their normal behavior will change and that is a signal to you to take them for a thorough physical check-up. You may also see changes in eating habits, weight loss or a disinterest in playing or going for a walk. If you see a difference in a mole of other sore that looks wrong to you get your pet to the vet quickly.

Oddly your pet my hide their illness from you to make sure they don’t let you down. They are sensitive to the moods of their owners and want to please them. Sometimes animals hide their symptoms out of fear. They do not want others to know they are ill because that makes them weak and weakness in the wild means death.

Skin Cancer Differences in Darker Skinned People

There is a misunderstanding among minority people that skin cancer is a Caucasian problem only. It is most certainly not. Although, studies tell us that it is more common among lighter skinned people they also tell us that it is more deadly among those with the darkest skin.

Melanoma, the deadliest of the skin cancers, affects only ten percent the number of African Americans, and five percent the number of Hispanic Americans, as it does members of the white American population. Part of this is because skin cancer is more likely to be a problem for someone with fair skin, blond or red hair and light colored eyes. The paler the skin the more likely you will burn which damages your skin. As a matter of fact a child who has suffer five or more serious burns is at a much high risk for skin cancer later in life.

People with darker complexions often have skin cancer in more unusual places then their lighter complexioned counterparts. Light skinned people discover skin cancer on their upper torso, legs, and faces or even on their scalps. People with darker skin are more likely to have skin cancer on the palms of their hands, soles of their feet, toenails or in the mouth or nose.

Unfortunately because many darker skinned people believe that old wives tale that says because their skin is darker they cannot get skin cancer it is not taken very seriously by enough minority people. Although their darker skin protects them from burns the truth is that they should be working just as hard to protect their skin form the sun as anyone else. African Americans should wear hats, use sunscreen and avoid the sun at its peak hours. They should protect their children from the suns ultraviolet rays. And when they see something suspicious on their skin, a mole that looks wrong, a sore that won’t heal, they should go to their health care provider immediately. See a dermatologist and learn quickly if there is something that needs attention or not. Its always better to have a doctor tell you there is nothing to worry about then to hear that you shouldn’t have waited so long to come in for a check-up.

Some studies question the reasons for skin cancer in darker skinned people. Based on some of the areas of the body that skin cancer develops, areas that are not highly exposed to the suns ultraviolet rays, researchers question the role of the sun in skin cancers for African Americans. They still insist on the same precautions being taken but admit not having conclusive proof as to the cause. Nor do they understand why it is so much more deadly to someone with darker skin, but it is.

Like all people, minority people with darker skin should learn to do self-examination every couple of months. It may seem like an unnecessary hassle but by taking ten to fifteen minutes to check yourself over you could save your life.

Preventing skin cancer

Although skin cancer typically happens to Caucasians, those that work outside, smokers and people with a family history of skin cancer, everybody is at risk these days as the statistics show. Skin cancer instances have doubled every 10 years over the last 40 years and we need to take action to prevent it from happening to us.

2 of the types of skin cancers are very lethal if left too late and it is therefore essential to follow the tips that I am about to provide you with, that I have in part sourced from the worlds largest healthcare organization. (NHS Direct Online)

Essentially, the best way to protect your self from skin cancer is to take care in the sun is to take preventative action and make sure you don’t burn your skin. Once you have been burnt the damage has already been done so make sure to cover up with loose fitting clothes.

Also, make sure to cover your legs and arms if it is at all possible. Heat stroke can be avoided if you again use loose fitting clothes and drink lots and lots of water to replace what you lose.

Remember that tightly woven fabrics will provide the best protection from the sun. you should also avoid direct sunlight during the mid day sun from 11am to 3pm as this is when the sun is at it’s strongest. If you must go outside between these times then make sure to cover-up with clothes, hat and sunglasses and apply plenty of sunscreen.

Always use a sun protection lotion with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15, although very fair-skinned people, children and people living in exposed areas of the world need to use lotions with an SPF of up to 40.

Make sure that your entire body is covered by sun protection lotion with sun protection factor above 15. An absolute minimum to cover up is your face, hands, feet and neck but you should also consider using it all over as the most vulnerable parts of your body are the places that are not usually exposed to sunlight.

You also need to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and then apply it every couple of hours, as sweat and friction against towels for example will cause it to wear off. Also reapply immediately after swimming, even if your lotion says it is of a waterproof variety.

I would suggest that you also consider wearing waterproof sun protection when you are out swimming. UVA and UVB rays can penetrate through 2 feet of water. You should also remember that clouds and fog do not stop the ultraviolet rays from penetrating and getting to your skin – that’s the job of the ozone layer (which we incidentally are killing off).

Finally, I would suggest that you cover up with clothing and use SPF 15 sun lotion even on cloudy days and always wear a hat and sunglasses that have UVA and UVB filters when in the sun. And if you want a final reminder about the dangers of sunlight, remember that ultraviolet rays can damage the retinas in your eyes causing cataracts.

Stress a contributor to skin cancer?

While most people know that heavy exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays are largely responsible for skin cancer, a new study has shown that individuals with high levels of stress may be more susceptible to the terrible disease. The study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the results showed a correlation between a high stress level and an accelerated risk for the disease. The study was published in the December issue of the scholarly journal known as the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The study was conducted using lab rats, some of which were exposed to highly stressful conditions. The rats that were to be stressed were exposed to fox urine, which is the smell-equivalent of danger to the instincts of the rats, causing them to be scared and stressed out. All of the rats were exposed to UV light, and scientists were shocked to find that skin cancers in the high-stress rats developed at a rate that was nearly twice as fast as the control rats. The researchers conjectured that if the same results of the experiment applied to humans, it may be a good idea for skin cancer patients to indulge in stress-relieving activities such as yoga or meditation. If the study’s findings were correct, these stress-relieving activities could possibly slow the growth rate of the cancer.

The scientists who conducted the experiment hypothesized that the results occurred like they did due to the fact that high stress levels can depress the immune system. When the immune system of the human body isn’t functioning properly, it may not be able to fend off rogue cells as well, such as those found in a skin cancer tumor. To that end, it is important to keep yourself as stress-free as you can, if only to help your body to function properly. As a matter of fact, there are two types of stress: acute stress and chronic stress.

Chronic stress is denoted by long-term fear and anxiety, and this is the type of stress that the mice in the study were exposed to. Acute stress, however, has been found to have an opposite effect on the body. Acute stress is represented by short periods of intense stress, such as the rush that one receives when they go on a rollercoaster.

What’s of some importance to consider when talking about stress levels is the diet that many Americans follow. Stress can be caused by certain factors in the diet, and fast food, white flour, and many other common staples of the industrialized diet may add stress to our bodies without us even realizing it. To help curb the effects of stress, be sure to get plenty of exercise and eat a healthy diet. Also, to keep your skin cancer risk at a minimum, be sure to use sunscreen when doing any outdoor activity in the sun. Be sure to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen which helps to provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays.