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Skin cancer is a disease that can affect any one. Skin cancer includes many types that can be classified as severe or superficial. Consequently, treatment of skin cancer depends on the degree of severity a person has. In the following paper, we will shed lights on the types of skin cancer and its causes.
Finally, we will investigate how to treat the different types of cancer and how to avoid it. Skin cancer is a term used to describe cancer in skin tissues. The skin is made of several layers. Skin cancer is classified according to the layer it develops in.
Skin cancer is classified according to the layer it develops in. The epidermis is the skins outer layer and is made up squamous cells, basal cells and melanocytes (common cancer, 2000, P. 2) Skin cancer occurs twice often in men than in women. The highest rates of skin cancer occurs in South Africa and Australia. It is common among white skinned people but rare in dark skinned people. (Bair, 1991, P. 367) Statistics show that the most common cancer is skin cancer. Over six hundred thousand people in the United States have skin cancer. Moreover, in every three new cases of cancer, one happens to be skin cancer.
Approximately forty to fifty percent of people who reach sixty-five have skin cancer (Dollinger, 1995, P. 579) Skin cancer is of three types: Basal cell cancer (BCC), Squamous cell carcinoma, and Melanomia. To begin, Basal cell cancer (BCC) is the most common of all cancers. It carries this name because it develops on the outermost layer of the epidermis. BCC is made of three types; the most common of skin cancer is Basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a flesh colored (cream to pink), round, translucent tumour.
Basal cell carcinoma tumors grow slowly sideways. The second type of BCC is the pigmented lesion that appears as a blue, brown, or black tumour, the third type of BCC is the superficial type that appears as a red often-scaly localized plaque. If BCC is not treated properly, it may crust, ulcerate, and sometimes cause bleeding (Dollinger, 1995, P. 579). Skin Cancer 3 The second type of skin cancer is squamous cell cancer (SCC). Its origin is from the cells that make the protective keratin of the epidermis. SCC occurs in the areas of the skin that were damaged by ultraviolet rays.
SCC is a red, well defined plaque and may turn to an ulcer or scaly crust (Dollinger, 1995, P. 579) The third type of skin cancer is Melanomia. It is the most serious type of skin cancer. It develops in the melanocytes, which are cells that produce melanin that gives the skin its pigment or color and protects tissues from ultra violet radiation. Dark skinned people have more melanin than light skinned people do. For this reason, Melanomia is more frequent in light skinned people. (Detailed description, 2000, P. 2 Now that we know different types of skin cancer, it is important to know the causes for this disease. The first one is the environmental pollutants that we are exposed to such as coal, tar, and radium.
Exposure to ionizing radiation such as x-rays also cause skin cancer (Theoretical Causes, 2000, P. 6). The other cause is the degree of pigmentation of the skin. Individuals with the highest risk are people who live in sunny places and people who have fair skin. The areas of the body that are the most exposed to sunlight are the areas of the face and head. Here, cancer is more likely to develop. (Bair, 1991, P. 368). The third factor that plays a major role in causing skin cancer is the Ozone layer.
It helps protect people from ultraviolet radiation. However, the ozone layer is shrinking and this is due to man-made products like sprays and combustion of cars that are emitted in the atmosphere. This process is allowing more ultraviolet penetration to the earth thus increasing risk of skin cancer (Bair, 1991, P. 367, 368). Ultraviolet radiation are the chief causes for skin cancer because the UV radiation penetrates through the skin and damages the DNA within the skin cells... Sometimes, the body tries to repair the DNA but this leads to excessive cell growth and tumour formation, (Theoretical causes, 2000, P. 6) The amount of UV radiation reaching the earth increases with high altitudes. In addition to that, cities that receive a good deal of Ultraviolet radiation are more likely to develop skin cancer than other unexposed cities (Bair, 1991, P. 367).
Skin Cancer 4 Moreover, scientific studies show that people with risks of skin cancer are people that have skin cancer in their family. These hereditary disorders make the skin sensitive and vulnerable to UV radiation. Consequently, this makes the skin tentative to develop tumors through increased sun exposure. Because of these hereditary disorders, some parts of the body that are rarely exposed to the sun, develop skin cancer on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. People with a greater risk of getting skin cancer are the ones with red or blond hair, blue or light colored eyes and with fair skins (Bair, 1991, P. 368) Moreover, skin cancer can be treated in several methods depending on its types.
One of the methods is Curettage for Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). This process involves removing the affected region by means of a Curette which has a sharp end. After the removal of the tumor, a special instrument is applied to stop bleeding. This procedure leaves a white scar that can be less noticeable in people who have light skin (Bair, 1991, P. 372). The second technique is Cryosurgery. This method is applied for precancerous skin conditions such as tumors and non-melanomia cancer.
Liquid nitrogen is applied on the affected area to remove the tumor. This liquid may be applied more than once depending on the size of the tumor. The process of healing takes several weeks than after the healing, a white scar is formed on the area that was treated. (Bair, 1991, P. 372) Another solution for the problem of skin cancer is Mohs Technique. It is used for severe and large cancers that have already spread on the patients body. This technique was often called Chemo surgery because the affected area was treated with zinc chloride paste. This procedure is different from previous ones because the cancer is removed one layer at a time until healthy tissues remain.
It should only be performed by highly specialized doctors. (Bair, 1991, P. 372 - 373). Because scars are often visible after treatment, radiation therapy is applied on the neck and head region, where scars can be visible with other techniques. This procedure might also be applied for tumors that have penetrated deep into tissues. However, after years of treatment, patients will notice that some changes occurred on the treated area. (Bair, 1991, p. 373). Skin Cancer 5 The fifth method is Topical Chemotherapy. It is applied for Actinic Keratosis or for a tumor that has developed on the top layer of the skin.
It involves applying a cream or a solution for several weeks on the affected area. Inflammation can be very visible during treatment. However, scars do not show after healing. (Bair, 1991, P. 372 373 - 374). The last method is Laser therapy. It is applied for cancers hat have affected the outer layer of the skin. A highly focused beam is applied on the tumor.
This beam destroys cancerous cells and will consequently cause scars. However, this therapy is less painful than previous ones, but very expensive. (Skin Cancer, symptoms, management, and treatment, 2000, P. 2) Moving to the symptoms of skin cancer, Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can develop anywhere in the body. However, they normally occur in the neck and face. These cancers usually do not hurt people, so they cannot detect tumors easily. Tumors can be detected in many forms. First, new skin growths like spots or lesions and unbearable spots, especially those that bleed and form crusts, can be possible symptoms for skin cancer.
Moreover, some moles can be considered as a pre-cancerous stage. Abnormal moles feel hard, itchy, and begin to bleed. Other ones may change in diameter (some become larger than six millimeters); Thus they are considered dangerous. Finally, red and brown patches on the skin can develop anywhere in the body and especially appear in the neck and face area (areas most exposed to the sun). (Skin cancer, symptoms, management, and treatment, 2000, p. 1) In the final analysis, scientists and doctors have given people many tips for avoiding skin cancer. These tips can be summarized in the following points. First avoiding exposure to the sun between eleven a.
m. and three p. m. At this time, sunlight can be very strong, and wearing tight clothes and hats to cover the face and the neck region. Secondly, using sunscreen during exposure (the best recommended is the one with SPF 15, ) and wearing sunglasses because UV rays are extremely harmful for the eyes.
The last advice is that lips must also be protected from UV rays, and that babies under six months must not be exposed to sunlight as much as possible. (Skin Cancer, symptoms, management and treatment, 2000, P. 4).
Free research essays on topics related to: skin cancer, uv radiation, uv rays, ultraviolet radiation, basal cell
Research essay sample on Skin Cancer Ultraviolet Radiation
