Skin Cancer

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Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.

Over 1,000 Australians are treated for skin cancer every day and over 1,600 Australians die from skin cancer each year. In 2005, 245 Victorians died from melanoma.

The major cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and other artificial sources, such as solariums.

The good news is that skin cancer is the most preventable form of cancer in Australia. Skin cancer can also be cured if detected and treated early.

SKIN CANCER TYPES

basal-cell-carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
squamous-cell-carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
melanoma
Melanoma

There are three main types of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma occurs in the basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin). This treatable carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin). Actinic keratoses (rough, scaly, slightly raised growths that range in color from brown to red and from about 1 mm to 1 inch in diameter) may be the earliest form of squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers are also considered extremely treatable.
Melanoma is a potentially fatal skin cancer that forms in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment). If caught early and treated aggressively, melanoma can be cured.

 

 

SKIN CANCER TREATMENT AND TUMOR REMOVAL

Skin cancer treatment is often a more involved process than the simple removal of the visible lesion. Subdermal cancerous tissue underneath the growth must also be removed to make sure that we get all of the cancer cells.

To do this, a frozen section may be ordered in which the cancer is removed and microscopically examined by a pathologist before closing. This helps assure that the excision has gone deep enough, and removed all of the cancerous cells. In clinical terms, this success is called a "clear margin." The tissue excise is continued until the entire region has a clear margin. When clear margins are found, the wound is reconstructed.

 

 

SKIN CANCER REMOVAL TYPES

There are many types of surgery to remove skin cancers from your body. The most appropriate surgical treatment is determined on the size, location and type of your skin cancer.

In some cases, the tumor may be cut from the skin along with some of the normal skin around it.

During Mohs surgery, the tumor is cut out layer by careful layer. Each layer is viewed through a microscope to check for cancer cells. This will continue until there is a clear margin. Mohs surgery is often used to remove skin cancers on the face.

Other skin cancer removal surgeries include:

Shave excision. During this procedure, the tumor is shaved off of the skin with a small blade.
Electrodesiccation and curettage. This procedure involves cutting the tumor from the skin with a sharp, spoon-shaped tool (curette) and zapping the area with a high-frequency electric current to stop the bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Cryotherapy. This procedure involves freezing and destroying skin cancer.
Lasers. Certain lasers may destroy and vaporize skin cancer tissue.
Dermabrasion. This procedure involves the use of a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges to basically sand off the upper layers of the skin. This is a much more aggressive form of the common anti aging treatment known as microdermabrasion.

After surgery to remove the cancer, reconstruction of the wound site may be needed. Scars are usually cosmetically acceptable when small skin cancers are removed. If the tumors are very large, however, a local flap that repositions the adjacent tissue over the wound may be needed. A skin graft, in which healthy skin is removed from one area of the body and relocated to the wound site, may also be needed after skin cancer removal surgery.

Some forms of skin cancer may also require additional treatment such as radiation therapy (radiotherapy) and chemotherapy to prevent spreading, and make sure any errant cancer cells are destroyed.

 

 

SKIN CANCER RISKS AND PREVENTION

Excessive exposure to the sun and its ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin cancer. Getting sunburned or tanned in childhood more than doubles the chances of developing potentially fatal melanoma later in life. People with light skin are much more likely to have sun damage, and are at greater risk of developing skin cancer than their darker-skinned counterparts.

Prevention and sun safety are the best ways to stave-off skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests:

  • Seeking the shade, especially between 10am and 4pm.
  • Avoiding burns.
  • Avoiding tanning and UV tanning booths.
  • Using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher every day.
  • Applying two tablespoons total of sunscreen to all exposed areas, 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
  • Covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Your eyeglasses should block 99 percent to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Check the label.
  • Keeping newborns out of the sun and using sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
  • Examining your skin from head-to-toe every month.
  • Seeing your physician every year for a professional skin exam.