Skin cancer happens when skin cells grow in a strange way, often in parts that get lots of sun.
Sometimes, it can also form in places that are not exposed. There are two major categories of skin cancer:
- Keratinocyte Carcinoma – This is the most common form of skin cancer and is less likely to spread and become life-threatening. If left untreated for an extended period, it can grow larger and spread to other parts.
- Melanoma – This is the second category of skin cancer. It develops from melanocytes, cells that are responsible for giving colour to the skin. Some benign moles formed by melanocytes can become cancerous. These moles can develop anywhere on your body but are most commonly found on the chest and back in men and on legs in women.
Causes and Risk Factors of Skin Cancer
- UV rays Exposure – Ultraviolet radiation causes damage to the DNA in skin cells.
- Fair Skin – Having less pigment or melanin in your skin provides less protection against UV radiation, which puts people with more equitable skin at a higher risk than people with darker skin.
- History of Sunburns – Having had one or more blistering sunburns earlier increases the risk in the later years of your life.
- Radiation Exposure – People who received radiation treatment for acne or eczema may have an increased risk of skin cancer.
- Personal history – If you’ve developed skin cancer once, the chances of developing it again are increased.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
- Purple or red patches on the membranes of the skin
- Firm, shiny nodules that appear on or below the skin and in hair follicles
- Hard, painless nodules on the skin, especially on the eyelids
- Unusual growth or changes in existing moles
- Unusual skin growth or sores that don’t go away
Prevention of Skin Cancer
- Avoid tanning beds
- Avoid direct sun exposure.
- Apply sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 30 or more.
- Wear hats and sunglasses when out in the sun.
Diagnosis of Skin Cancer
- Skin Biopsy – The doctor may take a sample of skin that looks suspicious to test it further in the lab and determine if you have cancer.
- Imaging Tests – To check if cancer has metastasized to internal organs and bones, doctors may recommend you get tests like CT scans, X-rays, or MRIs. These procedures are painless and non-invasive.
- Blood Tests – Blood tests do not directly diagnose melanoma, but doctors look for levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase or LDH. If the levels are high, it can indicate the stage of cancer.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
- Surgery – Surgeons use surgery to remove skin cancer by cutting out the tumor along with some surrounding tissue or shaving off the affected area.
- Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation like X-rays and protons to kill the cancer cells or halt their growth.
- Chemotherapy – This treatment uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. It does this either by killing the cancer cells or by preventing their further division.
- Photodynamic Therapy – This therapy uses a drug and a certain type of light to kill cancerous cells. The doctor injects the drug into the vein, and it accumulates more in cancer cells. This therapy causes little damage to the healthy tissue.
- Immunotherapy – It uses the body’s immune system to fight off cancer cells. Substances made in labs or by the body itself are used to boost and restore the body’s immune system and use it as a defence against cancer cells.
- Chemical Peel – In this, a chemical solution is put on the skin to dissolve the top layers of skin cells. It enhances the appearance of skin conditions.