 |
 |
||||||||
 |
|
|
Skin Cancer and Melanoma Southern Californians are blessed with an abundance of warm, sunny days. The climate makes it a pleasure to live here, but it also poses health risks. You are exposed to more harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, increasing your risk for skin cancer and other skin diseases. More than 50,000 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the U.S. last year. Fortunately, there is a 90-95 percent cure rate for skin cancer when diagnosed and treated early. Three Types of Skin Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma - Common in fair-skinned people. The tumor usually appears as a small fleshy bump on the head, neck or hands. These tumors grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma - Common in fair-skinned people. Usually appears as a bump or a red, scaly patch on the face, ear, lips, or mouth. It can develop into large masses and spread to other parts of the body. Malignant melanoma - Most dangerous form of cancer. It can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood. This is the leading cause of all skin cancer-related deaths. Are you at risk? One main risk factor appears to be overexposure to the sun or tanning booths. People who are exposed to intense sun over a short period of time (weekend tanners) are more at risk for melanoma than people who have a consistent daily sun exposure. People with fair skin who tend to sunburn or freckle easily, especially those with red or blonde hair are at greater risk. Blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescence can put people at risk. Melanoma may also run in families, especially those with a tendency to have many abnormally sized or shaped moles all over the body. How is it diagnosed? To help diagnose skin diseases a dermatologist, family physician or surgeon performs a skin biopsy. This tissue is sent to the laboratory for processing. At SCMC, we are fortunate to have a state-of-the-art laboratory with excellent histotechnologists. They cut the tissue into extremely thin sections, place them on a glass slide and stain it. The prepared biopsy slides are given to one of the two dermatopathologists to interpret. Under the microscope, the dermatopathologist examines the biopsy in order to provide accurate diagnosis. A pathology report is forwarded to your physician. The ABC’s of Melanoma
If you are worried about melanoma, use the following ABC's to do some self-checks. Asymmetry - Melanoma lesions are typically irregular in shape. Benign moles are round. Border - Melanoma lesions typically have uneven borders, while benign moles have smooth, even borders. Color - Melanoma lesions often contain many shades of brown or black; benign moles are usually one shade. Diameter - Melanoma lesions are often more than 5 millimeters in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser); benign moles are smaller. Evolutionary Change - Documented change of appearance in the lesion over time. Prevention You can help prevent the onset of malignant melanoma by taking a few precautions.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
