*Graphics Designed by Alexgram1*

 

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"May is Nation Skin Cancer Awareness Month so with that in mind...lets learn some facts about Skin Cancer"
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Skin Cancer Fact Sheet    

*More than half of all new cancers are skin cancers.

*More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year.*

*About 80 percent of the new skin cancer cases will be basal cell carcinoma, 16 percent are squamous cell carcinoma, and 4 percent are melanoma.

*Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a better than 95 percent cure rate if detected and treated early.

*An estimated 9,600 people will die of skin cancer this year, 7,400 from melanoma and 2,200 from other skin cancers.*

*There will be about 87,900 new cases of melanoma in 2002 – 34,300 in situ (noninvasive) and 53,600 invasive (30,100 men and 23,500 women).* This is a 4 percent increase in invasive melanoma from 2001. In 2002, at current rates one in 41 Americans have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma and one in 68 Americans have a lifetime risk of developing invasive melanoma.

*One person dies of melanoma every hour. In 2002, 7,400 deaths will be attributed to melanoma – 4,700 men and 2,700 women.*

*Older Caucasian males have the highest mortality rates from melanoma.

*The incidence of melanoma more than tripled among Caucasians between 1980 and 2002.

*More than 80 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.

*Melanoma is more common than any non-skin cancer among women between 25 and 29 years old.

*Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the sixth most common cancer in women.*     
   
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Skin Cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and usually occurs in fair-skinned individuals who have been exposed to the sun, x-rays, or ultraviolet (UV) light for prolonged periods. Skin cancers affect approximately 600,000 Caucasians every year.    The principal cause of skin cancer -- almost universally accepted by medical experts -- is overexposure to sunlight, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Avoiding sun overexposure is the best defense against skin cancer. And, catching problems early, provides a better chance for successful treatment.    
 

What is basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell cancer, sometimes called non-melanoma skin cancer, usually appears as a small, fleshy bump or nodule on the head, neck, or hands. Occasionally, these nodules appear on the trunk of the body, usually as flat growths. Basal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States. It is often easily detected and has an excellent record for successful treatment. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the cure rate for basal cell carcinoma is 95 percent, when properly treated. Although this type of cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body, it can extend below the skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage. And, non-melanoma skin cancer places people at high risk for developing additional skin cancers.

Who is at risk for basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer found in Caucasians. It seldom occurs in dark-skinned persons. People who have this cancer frequently have light hair, eyes, and complexions, and they do not tan easily.

How does basal cell carcinoma develop?
This highly treatable cancer starts in the basal cell layer of the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and grows very slowly. A basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a small, shiny bump or nodule on the skin, and mainly on the areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, arms, hands, and face.    
 

    What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a disease of the skin in which cancer cells are found in the melanocytes, the cells that produce color in the skin or pigment known as melanin. Melanoma usually occurs in adults, but it may occasionally be found in children and adolescents. Melanoma may also be called cutaneous melanoma or malignant melanoma. Melanoma is the rarest, but most virulent, form of skin cancer.

Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer than the more common basal cell cancer, or squamous cell cancer. Although the incidence of melanoma is lower than other types of skin cancer, it has the highest death rate and is responsible for 75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer.
 

Where is melanoma most
often found?
Melanoma most often appears on fair-skinned men and women, but people with other skin types can be affected. Rarely, melanomas can form in parts of the body not covered by skin such as the eyes, mouth, vagina, large intestine, and other internal organs.

What is a risk factor?
A risk factor is anything that may increase a person’s chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases, including cancers, have different risk factors. Although these factors can increase a person’s risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors. But, knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.    
 

What are the risk factors for melanoma?
Persons with the following characteristics may be at an increased risk for melanoma:
*blond or red hair
*blue eyes
*fair complexion
*family history of melanoma
*a changed or changing mole
*many ordinary moles (more than 50)
*many freckles
*an immunosuppressive disorder
*dysplastic nevi
*sun exposure
The amount of time spent unprotected in the sun directly affects your risk of skin cancer.
inability to tanDark-brown or black skin is not a guarantee against melanoma. African-Americans can develop this cancer, especially on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under nails, or in the mouth.

What are the symptoms of melanoma?
The following are the most common symptoms of melanoma. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Symptoms may include:

*change in the size, shape, or color of a mole
*oozing or bleeding from a mole
*a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch
Because most malignant melanoma cells still produce melanin, melanoma tumors are often shaded brown or black. Melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. Men most often develop melanoma on the area of the body between the shoulders and hips, or on the head or neck. Women most often develop melanoma on the arms and legs. However, melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system, or through the blood. Like most cancers, melanoma is best treated when it is diagnosed early. The symptoms of melanoma may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma:
To prevent melanoma, it is important to examine your skin on a regular basis, and become familiar with moles, and other skin conditions, in order to better identify changes. According to recent research, certain moles are at a higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma. Moles that are present at birth, and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant.

Recognizing changes in your moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. The warning signs are:   

Normal Mole    Melanoma    Sign    Characteristic   
''    ''    Asymmetry    when half of the mole does not match the other half 
''    ''    Border    when the border (edges) of the mole are ragged or irregular   
''    ''    Color    when the color of the mole varies throughout   
''    ''    Diameter    if the mole’s diameter is larger than a pencil’s eraser   

Photographs Used By Permission: National Cancer Institute   

Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD characteristics, while other may only show changes in one or two characteristics. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.   


    Diagnosis and Staging of MelanomaHow is melanoma diagnosed?
Medical examinations and tests are used to determine if a suspicious area is melanoma skin cancer. In addition to a complete medical history, including family history, questions are asked about the marking on the skin, such as when you first noticed it, as well as if and how it has changed in size or appearance. The suspected area, as well as the rest of your body is examined, noting the size, shape, color, texture, and if there is bleeding or scaling. A skin sample will probably be examined by a biopsy. The biopsy procedure chosen depends on the site and size of the affected area.

Types of biopsies:
*skin biopsy - removes a sample of skin for examination under the microscope to determine if melanoma is present. The biopsy is performed under local anesthesia, and you will feel a small needle stick and a little burning for about a minute, with a little pressure, but no pain.

*shave biopsy - a type of skin biopsy in which the top layers of skin (the epidermis and the most superficial part of the dermis) are shaved off.  It is also performed with a local anesthetic.

*punch biopsy - removes a deeper sample of skin with a biopsy instrument that removes a short cylinder or "applecore" of tissue. After a local anesthetic, the instrument is rotated on the surface of the skin until it cuts through all the layers including the dermis, epidermis, and the most superficial parts of the subcutis (the fat).
excisional or incisional biopsy - used when a wider or deeper portion of the skin is needed. Using a scalpel (surgical knife), a full thickness of skin is removed for further examination, and the wound is sutured (with surgical thread).

When the entire tumor is removed, it is called excisional biopsy technique. If only a portion of the tumor is removed, it is called incisional biopsy technique. Excisional biopsy is the method usually preferred when melanoma is suspected.
fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy - uses a thin needle to remove very small tissue fragments from a tumor. Local anesthetic is sometimes used to numb the area, but the test rarely causes much discomfort and leaves no scar.

FNA is not used for diagnosis of a suspicious mole, but may be used to biopsy large lymph nodes near a melanoma to see if the melanoma has metastasized (spread). A computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) -- an x-ray procedure that produces cross-sectional images of the body -- may be used to guide a needle into a tumor in an internal organ such as the lung or liver. What is staging?
When melanoma is found, more tests will be done to find out if the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging, and is necessary before treatment for the cancer can begin.

What are the stages for melanoma?
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The National Cancer Institute stages of melanoma are:
*State 0 - Abnormal cells are found only in the outer layer of skin and have not invaded deeper tissue.

*Stage I - Cancer is found in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and/or the upper part of the inner layer of skin (dermis), but it has not spread to nearby lymph nodes. The tumor is less than 1.5 millimeters (1/16 of an inch) thick.
Stage II - The tumor is 1.5 millimeters to 4 millimeters (less than 1/6 of an inch) thick. It has spread to the lower part of the inner layer of skin (dermis), but not into the tissue below the skin or into nearby lymph nodes.

*Stage III - any of the following may be evident:

*The tumor is more than 4 millimeters (approximately 1/6 of an inch) thick.
*The tumor has spread to the body tissue below the skin.
*There are additional tumor growths within one inch of the original tumor (satellite tumors).
*The tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes or there are additional tumor growths (satellite tumors) between the original tumor and the lymph nodes in the area.

*Stage IV - The tumor has spread to other organs, or to lymph nodes, far away from the original tumor.

*Recurrent - recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the original site or in another part of the body.    
 

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Melanoma
 

What is squamous cell carcinoma?
Squamous cell skin cancer (sometimes referred to as non-melanoma carcinoma) may appear as nodules, or as red, scaly patches of skin.

Who is at risk for squamous cell carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer found in Caucasians, and is usually found on fair-skinned persons. This form of cancer develops in approximately 200,000 persons per year. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the cure rate for squamous cell carcinoma is 95 percent, when properly treated.

Where is squamous cell carcinoma found?
Squamous cell carcinoma is typically is found on the rim of the ear, face, lips and mouth, however, it can spread to other parts of the body. Although generally more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma, this cancer is highly treatable.    
 

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What are the causes of skin cancer?
Although there are other contributing factors, including heredity and environment, sunburn and UV light damage the skin, and this damage can lead to skin cancer. Most people receive 50 percent of their lifetime exposure to the sun by 18 years of age.

What does tanning do to the skin?
Tanning is the skin's response to UV light -- a protective reaction to prevent further injury to the skin from the sun. However, it does not prevent skin cancer.

What are risk factors for skin cancer?
*heredity - people with a family history of skin cancer are generally at a higher risk of developing the disease. People with fair skin, and a northern European heritage, appear to be most susceptible.

*environment - due to a reduction of ozone in the earth's atmosphere, the level of UV light today is higher than it was 50 or 100 years ago. Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the amount of UV light that we are exposed to. With less atmospheric ozone, a higher level of UV light reaches the earth's surface.

 

Other Factors:

*multiple nevi (moles) or atypical nevi.
*occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium.
*elevation - ultraviolet light is stronger as elevation increases (because the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes cannot filter UV as effectively as it does at sea level).
*latitude - the rays of the sun are strongest near the equator.
*cloud cover - places with regular cloud cover may actually reduce UV -- resulting in a 50 percent lower level of UV light.
   
    How can skin cancer be prevented?
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has declared war on skin cancer by recommending these three preventive steps:
 

*Wear protective clothing, including a hat with a four-inch brim.

*Apply sunscreen all over your body and avoid the midday sun
 

The following six steps have been recommended by the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
*Minimize exposure to the sun at midday -- between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

*Apply sunscreen, with at least a SPF-15 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.

*Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.

*Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck.

*Wearing sunglasses will reduce the amount of rays reaching the eye by filtering as much as 80 percent of the rays, and protecting the lids of our eyes as well as the lens.

*Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors.

*Protect children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.

Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months of age -- instead severely limit their exposure to the sun. Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella. Snow is even a particularly good reflector of UV rays. Reflective surfaces can reflect up to 85 percent of the damaging sun rays.   
 

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Additional: The information, that I provide to you is strictly for your information. I am in no way (nor do I claim to be) a Therapist or Doctor. I in no way an authority on any of these subjects just simply providing the information to you as a tool in learning about different illness and conditions. In using any of these, you are at your own risk and agree not to hold me responsible, in any way, for the outcome.Hangtide and its editors are not the author of many of any articles included, and do not claim to own any copyright privileges to them. They are assumed to be in the public domain, and a best effort is taken not to use copyrighted material. If I am infringing on anyone's copyright, please contact: Hangtide@aol.com and I will give credit to the deserving party. Information provided in this document is provided "as is" without Warranty or liability of any kind.


The material on this site is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for a health care provider's consultation. Please consult your own physician or appropriate health care provider about your own symptoms or medical conditions. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your physician or other health care provider.

Research and credit To Sandy