About Department

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, primarily caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Each type has different characteristics, risk factors, and treatment options.

Types of Skin Cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

• Characteristics:
  • Most common form of skin cancer.
  • Typically appears as a waxy bump, a flat lesion, or a scar-like area.
  • Grows slowly and rarely metastasizes (spreads) to other parts of the body.
• Risk Factors:
  • Chronic sun exposure, fair skin, history of sunburns, use of tanning beds.
  • Age and male gender.
• Treatment:
  • Surgical removal, cryotherapy, topical treatments, Mohs surgery for larger or recurrent tumors.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

• Characteristics:
  • Second most common type.
  • Appears as a firm red nodule, a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface, or a sore that heals and reopens.
  • More likely to invade deeper layers of skin and spread to other parts of the body than BCC.
• Risk Factors:
  • Similar to BCC: sun exposure, fair skin, history of sunburns, tanning beds, age.
  • Exposure to carcinogens like arsenic, radiation therapy, and chronic skin inflammation.
• Treatment:
  • Surgical excision, Mohs surgery, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, topical medications.

Melanoma

• Characteristics:
  • Most dangerous form of skin cancer.
  • Can develop in existing moles or as new dark spots on the skin.
  • Known for its ability to spread rapidly to other organs.
  • Early signs follow the ABCDE rule:
    • Asymmetry
    • Border irregularity
    • Color variation
    • Diameter greater than 6 mm
    • Evolving size, shape, or color.
• Risk Factors:
  • Intense, intermittent sun exposure and sunburns, fair skin, family history of melanoma.
  • Presence of many moles or atypical moles.
• Treatment:
  • Wide surgical excision, sentinel lymph node biopsy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy for advanced cases.

Symptoms

The symptoms of skin cancer vary based on the type and can include:

BCC:

• Pearly or waxy bump
• Flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
• Bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns

SCC:

• Firm, red nodule
• Flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
• New sore or raised area on an old scar or ulcer

Melanoma:

• Large brownish spot with darker speckles
• Mole that changes in color, size, or feel, or that bleeds
• Small lesion with an irregular border and parts that appear red, pink, white, blue, or blue-black

Diagnosis

Diagnosing skin cancer involves:

• Physical Examination: Inspection of the skin for suspicious moles or lesions.
• Biopsy: Removal of a sample of skin tissue for microscopic examination to determine if cancer cells are present.
• Imaging Tests: For advanced melanoma to check for spread (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET scans).