How Skin Cancer Develops
There are different types of skin cancer that someone can develop. It is important that you know which one you have because it can affect the different types of skin cancer treatments that might be available to you. These types of skin cancer start in the basal cells or squamous cells of the skin, which is the main reason for their given names. These cells are on the outer layer of your skin, the most common types of skin cancer happen in sun-exposed areas such as the neck, lips, ears, and face and in some cases in the back of your hands. The sun and it's UV rays are one of the biggest reason behind skin cancer because it damages your skin if you are vulnerable for too long. Though you should be aware that the older you get, the chances of obtaining skin cancer increases.
Statistics
- From ages 15-39, men are 55 percent more likely to die of melanoma than women in the same age group.
- An estimated 46,870 new cases of invasive melanoma in men and 29,510 in women will be diagnosed in the U.S in 2016
- An estimated 6,750 men and 3,380 women in the U.S will die from melanoma in 2016
- Woman aged 49 and under have a higher probability of developing melanoma than any other cancer except breast and thyroid cancer
- The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over the age of 55.
Stages
Stage 0 - The cells that are affected are barely turn into cancer but they have not yet grown or become dangerous.
Stage 1 - At stage 1 the cancer is 2mm thick and 2cm across but have no high risk features, it looks very abnormal under the microscope.
Stage 2 - At this stage the cancer has grown to more than 2cm across and has 2 or more high risk features.
Stage 3 - Stage 3 means that the cancer has either grown into the bones such as the jaw or on the bone around the eyes, or has spread to a nearby lymph node (or lymph gland) on the same part of the body.
Stage 4 - This is the most dangerous and extreme stage because the cancer has either grown into the spine, ribs or lower part of the skull, or spread to a lymph node that is bigger than 3cm, or to an internal organs such as the lungs.
Diagnostic Evaluations
- Do a physical exam of your skin.
- Do a skin biopsy. Your doctor will take a sample of your skin and have it tested for melanoma.
- Check your lymph nodes to see if they are larger than normal. This may be followed by a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the melanoma has spread to your lymph system.
Drug Treatment
Treatments varies and can include chemotherapy or surgery done with radiation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for skin cancer have approved some drugs that combat. Most people nowadays use the surgery or the chemotherapy but drugs are another option.
These drugs include:
These drugs include: