Cancer

Here are definitions of medical terms related to skin cancer. Actinic keratosis: a precancerous skin growth that occurs on sun-damaged skin often looks like a red scaly patch and feels like “sandpaper”. Basal cell carcinoma: the most common form of skin cancer that involves cells in the lower part, or base, of the epidermis, the outer layer […]

There are a number of different types of skin cancers depending on the type of skin cell from which they arise. Each kind of skin cancer has its own distinctive appearance. Certain skin cancers also tend to develop in specific areas of the body. Basal cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma A third type, malignant melanoma, is relatively

Anyone can get skin cancer. Although most cases occur in people over age 50 with fair skin, it can develop in younger people, and those with dark skin. In general, an individual’s lifetime exposure to UV light determines his risk. Certain individuals have a risk that is higher than the rest of the population. Included

People with severe forms of skin cancer sometimes can choose between standard therapy and experimental therapy. Standard therapy is the traditional treatment used by most doctors. Most standard treatments have been in use for years. Standard therapy, however, may not work for all patients. It may not cure the disease, or it may cause too

  Skin cancer is a disease in which skin cells grow abnormally. In healthy skin new cells develop all the time to replace older cells. These normal new cells multiply and grow in an orderly way. If skin cells grow out of control they form a mass or ‘tumor’.  A skin tumor is considered benign (not cancer)

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Energy from the sun actually is a form of radiation. It consists of visible light and other rays that people can’t see. Invisible infrared radiation, for instance, makes sunlight feel hot. UV also is invisible, and causes sunburn and sun tan. UV rays

Doctors often can recognize skin cancer just by looking at it. Encourage your doctor to look for growths by doing a complete examination of the entire skin surface during a physical examination at least once a year; more often if you already have a past history of skin cancer. Many people detect skin cancer themselves

Cancers go through distinct periods, phases, or stages in their growth. The process of determining the stage of cancer is called “staging.” A doctor must know the stage of a cancer in order to pick the most effective treatment. Advanced cancer that has spread needs treatment quite different than localized cancer growing only in the

Treatment of skin cancer depends on the type of skin cancer its stage and location and the individual’s age and overall health People with small basal cell carcinomas, for instance, may need only simple treatment. That’s because basal cell cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body and seldom are fatal. Squamous cell carcinomas

Doctors often measure the success of cancer treatment in terms of the five-year survival rate. A person usually is considered to be cured if he or she is alive and without any trace of skin cancer five years after first being diagnosed. The chances of a cure depend on many factors, including how early the

The most important preventive measure is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight damages the genetic material DNA in skin cell genes. This increases the risk that a normal cell will start growing abnormally and become cancerous. UV rays also damage the structure of the skin in ways that cause

There is reason for both concern and optimism. Some scientists are concerned that thinning of Earth’s protective ozone layer may cause more cases of skin cancer. The ozone layer is a band of gas high in the atmosphere. It filters some UV radiation from sunlight. Industrial chemicals, now banned in the United States and some