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by Peter Tran, MD
It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop
skin cancer each year. Skin cancer is the most common
form of cancer and it has reached epidemic proportions
in this country over the past several years. The lifetime
chance of getting skin cancer is 1 in 5. "Worse yet,
the rate of melanoma, the most dangerous of skin cancers,
is doubling every 8 to 10 years" says Darrell Rigel,
M.D., past president of the American Academy of Dermatologists
(A.D.D.).
With that in mind, let's discuss the three most common
forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. |
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common
form of skin cancer. When diagnosed early, the cure rate
is excellent. However, if feft untreated, basal cell carcinoma
can cause considerable tissue damage resulting in disfigurement.
Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of
skin cancer, is also highly curable, but if untreated
can potentially spread and become lethal.
Malignant melanoma, unlike the other two forms of skin
cancers, is much more aggressive in nature and has a high
tendency to metastasize. People with atypical moles must
be watched carefully for suspicious lesions as they are
at increased risk of developing melanonma. It is estimated
that one person dies of melanoma every hour. It will kill
approximately 7,800 Americans this year.
Who is a risk of developing skin cancer? Certain sun and
gene-related factors may predispose people to developing
skin cancer. People with the following characteristics
are at increae risk: fair skin, tendency to burn easily,
chronic sun exposure, blistering sunburns as a child,
and family history of skin cancer. Fortunately even if
you are at risk, there are many measures that can be taken
to prevent skin cancer. Some ways to minimize the risk
of skin cancer include avoiding the sun between 10:00
a.m. and 2:00 p.m. covering up with clothing, using a
broad spectrum sun screen with a sun protection factor
(SPF) of 15 or higher, and learning to practice self-examination.
In addition to sun avoidance and self-inspection, an annual
skin examination by a qualified physician is essential.
Prevention and early diagnosis are key to the treatment
of all skin cancers. Even melanonma is usually treatable
if detected in its early stages, before it spreads to
other organs. If a dermatologist notices a suspicious
looking lesion, a biopsy will be taken to determine if
it is malignant. If malignant, the treatment of choice
is complete removal of the tumor through surgical excision.
The amount of tissue that needs to be excised depends
on the tumor's thickness, so early detection means less
invasive surgery and better prognosis.
For skin cancer located in a critical area, a dermatologist
will use the Mohs micrographic technique, a specialized
excision that allows the dermatologist to remove skin
cancer by layers and check the margins. The advantage
of this technique is to reduce the incidence of recurrence
and minimize the size of the scar. If the cancer has spread,
the patient may need additional chemotherapy or radiation
therapy.
The best defense against skin cancer is an aggressive
offense. Regular visits to your dermatologist, as well
as skin self examination, can be life savers.
Dr. Tran is a Board Certified Dermatologist. He is a Fellow
of the American Academy of Dermatology and he trained
at University of California, San Francisco. You may contact
him at (760) 951-7762 |
