SKIN-CANCER-DIAGNOSIS-AND-TREATMENT - Skin Care
SKIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
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SKIN CANCER:
Skin cancer is such type of cancer in which the abnormal skin cells start to have uncontrolled growth in the skin. Generally, it is caused due to the UV radiation from sunshine or tanning beds, means the unprepared DNA starts damaging the skin cells and triggered genetic defects, or mutations, which as a result force skin cells to spread quickly and form a malignant tumor in the skin.
If the skin cancer is diagnosed early then it can be simply cured with normal medication by applying them on the skin or a relatively minor surgery can also be done depending on the case of the patient.
TYPES OF SKIN CANCER
The three major types of skin cancer are:
1-BASAL CELL CARCINOMA:
Basal cell is always present in the lower epidermis and they are round in shape. It is observed that around 75-80% of skin cancer develop because of this type of cell. They are generally termed as Basal Cell Carcinoma. It is mostly developed on the head and neck. The major reason for the development of these cells is either sun exposure or radiation therapy (received at the young age). It grows at very slow pace and rarely grows in other parts of the body.
2-SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA:
The epidermis made up of flat and scale-like cells are termed as squamous cells. Cancer develops due to these cells are called Squamous Cell Carcinoma and around 15-20% of skin cancers are developed due to these cells. The major reason for this type of skin cancer indulges sun exposure or developed on the skin which has been burned, damaged due to chemicals, or faced x-rays. Some other areas where these cells can be found include lips, anus, skin outside the mouth, vagina. These cells do spread to other parts of the body as compared to basal cell carcinoma.
3-MELANOMA:
The scattered cells, where usually epidermis connect with the dermis, called melanocytes. These cells develop a pigment called melanin which provides skin color. Melanoma always develops in melanocytes and it is considered as the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
SKIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Usually, doctors use different tests to diagnose skin cancer. They also test to examine if cancer has grown in other parts of the body and where it started at first. It is called metastasis. Doctors generally conduct some tests to figure out the type of skin cancer and then decide which treatment would be more suitable for the patient as it totally depends on the situation of the patient.
Considering skin cancer diagnosis, a biopsy is the most recommended way to determine the presence of cancer in the body. Doctors consider following factors while selecting a diagnostic test for skin cancer diagnosis:
Type of cancer which is suspected
Signs and symptoms
Patients age and medical health
Result and reports of earlier medical test
BIOPSY:
As non-melanoma cancer rarely spreads in other parts of the body, a biopsy is the only test required for skin cancer diagnosis and figure out the stage of, expanse, of a skin cancer. The Biopsy is simply the removal of few tissues for analysis under a microscope. In the process, the suspected skin lesion is taken off after a local anesthetic assists numb the part. Doctors also take a small amount of healthy tissue near the lesion, termed as the margin.
A pathologist than examined the samples and determines whether the patient is suffering from cancer or not. Doctors generally discuss the results of biopsy with the patient and tell that no further treatment would be needed beyond the biopsy if the total cancer was removed but in case of cancer cells found in the margins of removed tissue too than an additional treatment would be necessary to cure the skin cancer.
SKIN CANCER TREATMENT
Treatment recommendations and options for skin cancer depend on the following factors:
Location and size of the cancer
Viable side effects
Patients age and medical health
SURGERY AND DIFFERENT TREATMENTS:
Considering the size and location of lesion different surgical procedures are recommended for the patients with skin cancer. Some of the major surgical procedures used after the skin cancer diagnosis are as follows:
Curettage and electrodessication
Mohs Surgery
Freezing
Wide excision
Laser therapy
Photodynamic therapy
Reconstructive surgery
RADIATION THERAPY:
Radiation therapy for skin cancer is done by situating the radiation source very near to or in some cases inside of the skin cancer. The most common type of radiation treatment done after skin cancer diagnosis is brachytherapy.
CHEMOTHERAPY:
To cure the cancerous lesion present only at the top of skin mostly doctors recommend chemotherapy as any lotion or cream. The prescribed lotion as chemotherapy needed to apply on the skin daily for several weeks and weekly checkup is scheduled to the doctors to examine the situation of the patient.