Many basal cell and squamous cell cancers can be removed quickly and easily during a surgical procedure. If cancer has spread, your treatment may include chemotherapy and radiation.
Your dermatologist or medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in treating cancer) prescribes medication to destroy cancer cells. Some treatments include lotions or creams with cancer-killing drugs that are applied directly to the skin, and others use pills or intravenous (IV) therapy.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a group of different types of cancer that starts in tissues that cover the outside layer of your skin. It is most often caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or from tanning beds. It can also be caused by some medicines, especially ones that affect how your immune system works. And it can happen because of certain changes in your genes.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer. They both start in cells that normally make pigment and are found in sun-exposed areas of the skin, such as your face, ears, neck, arms and legs, especially those that get a lot of direct sunlight. They grow slowly, but they can spread to other parts of the body if not treated early.
Melanoma is less common but more dangerous than BCC and SCC. It develops in melanocytes, the cells that give your skin its natural color. It is more likely to occur in people with fair skin that freckles or burns easily, or in those who have a history of many blistering sunburns as children and teenagers. It can also run in families.
Melanomas are most often found on the skin, but they can appear in places that rarely see the sun, like your palms and soles or underneath your fingernails or toenails. They can also form in moles that aren’t exposed to the sun, such as on your scalp or inside your mouth.
What causes skin cancer?
Skin cancer develops when cells in your body grow out of control. Errors (mutations) in your DNA may cause these cells to grow and form a mass of cancerous tissue. Your risk of developing skin cancer increases if you have a lot of sun exposure or have had previous cases of it. Other risk factors include a family history of skin cancer, a large number of moles, the type of mole you have and a weakened immune system (for example, from HIV/AIDS or taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant).
A common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. It grows in the cells that line the outer layer of your skin (epidermis). It isn’t deadly and doesn’t spread very often. It can, however, erode your skin and cause scabs and warts to appear.
Squamous cell carcinoma is more serious and it spreads easily. It grows in the squamous cells in the outer layer of your epidermis and can damage surrounding tissues and nerves. It is most common in fair-skinned people with blond or red hair and blue eyes but it can occur anywhere on the body.
Melanoma is less common but it’s the most dangerous type of skin cancer and it can spread to other parts of your body. It forms in the cells that give color to your skin, hair and eyes (melanocytes). If it’s caught early melanoma is almost always cured.
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
There are many kinds of skin cancer, and each can look different. They can be small and nearly invisible (slow growing and pearly white or pink), big, red and scaly, or rough and pitted, like a psoriasis sore or an ulcer that won’t heal.
They may appear as a new lump or discolored patch that grows over months and years. A lump may feel hard and firm or it can be painful, especially when it breaks open and bleeds. Skin cancer can also be itchy or irritated and may spread along the nerves.
Most skin cancers can be cured when they’re detected and treated early. But if left undiagnosed, some can spread to other parts of the body and be life-threatening.
It’s important to regularly check your skin for changes in the size, shape and color of existing moles and any other areas of your skin. A yearly full-body skin exam is best. Be sure to check all areas of your body, including the backs of your legs and arms, your genital area, and the areas you can’t see easily – like your scalp, ears, palms, under your fingernails or toenails, and the spaces between your toes. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of any areas you are concerned about so that you can show them to your doctor.
How can I prevent skin cancer?
Skin cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in the tissues that cover the body. The most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, which can be almost always cured when they are found and treated early. Other types of skin cancer, such as melanoma, can be more serious and may spread to other parts of the body. If melanoma is found and treated early, most people survive.
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to avoid UV radiation from the sun and from tanning beds. You can do this by wearing protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, especially when the sun is at its strongest. Using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is also important. Apply it liberally and reapply often, especially after swimming or sweating.
Everyone should be aware of the warning signs of skin cancer and see a doctor right away if they notice any unusual growths, lumps or bumps on the skin. It is also important to check your body regularly for new growths and changes in old growths. If you have had a skin cancer before, you are at increased risk of getting another one. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma are the most common cancers, but melanoma is more dangerous and can be deadly.