Health Tips > Prevention Plus > Skin Cancer: Detection and Prevention

Skin Cancer: Detection and Prevention

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Approximately 98 percent of skin cancers fall into one of three categories: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Skin cancer is caused by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation and sun damage. If detected and treated early, many forms of skin cancer are treatable.

Cooper Clinic Preventive and Cosmetic Dermatologist Rick Wilson, MD, FASDS, FABVLM, explains the three primary types of skin cancer, and how to prevent and detect these cancers.

Types of Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma comprises 75 percent of skin care cases. It is caused by cumulative sun damage and is more common in people 40 years of age and older. Anyone is susceptible to this type of skin cancer, but the greatest risk factors are fair skin, fair hair and light eyes, and spending a great deal of time in the sun. The fairer your skin and the more sun you’ve been exposed to, the greater your chance of developing precancers and cancers.

Basal cell carcinoma can be identified by a pinkish to red, flat or raised spot on the skin with a pearly sheen.

This type of skin cancer does not have the tendency to spread or to threaten your life, except in rare cases. However, it is dangerous to let skin cancer go untreated, especially if the cancer is inside the ear, around the eye or near the nose.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The second most common form of skin cancer, accounting for 20 percent of skin cancer cases, is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer tends to be more dangerous, with a greater risk of metastasis. Like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is mostly preventable through careful protection of the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma can be identified by a bump that may be wart-like in character, with a rough, hard surface. It primarily occurs on sun-exposed areas, and is most common on the head, neck and back of the hands.

Melanoma
The most deadly of skin cancers, melanoma, comprises roughly five to seven percent of all skin cancer cases. In more advanced stages, malignant melanoma is highly resistant to radiation treatments, chemotherapy and immune therapy. Once it has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body), it quickly becomes fatal.

Of the more than 3,600 patients screened at Cooper Clinic last year, approximately one out of every 100 was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

To identify melanoma, learn your ABCDs:

Asymmetry: growth pattern that is not symmetrical
Borders: irregular, scalloped or notched
Colors: multiple colors from pale brown to jet black
Diameter: larger than the size of a pencil eraser

Preventing Skin Cancer
One of the best forms of skin cancer prevention is education. In Australia and New Zealand, where there are high incidents of malignant melanoma, there is a plethora of education for citizens. In the U.S. the general public is far less educated about the risks of and how to prevent skin cancer.

To protect yourself from skin cancer:

Avoid the sun as much as possible
Always wear a chemical-free sunscreen (emphasizing micronized zinc oxide) with an SPF rating of 30-50, and reapply it every few hours while in intense sun. (Read more about which types of sunscreen work best)
Wear chemical-free sunscreen containing least SPF 30 and zinc oxide.

Detecting Skin Cancer
A full body skin cancer screen is the best way to detect skin cancer. If you have noticed spots on your skin that have changed in shape, color or texture, do not wait to schedule an appointment for a full body skin cancer screen. Many doctors will only provide a full body screen if it is specifically requested. At Cooper Clinic, we always provide a full body screen to our patients.

It’s important to note that once you’ve had one type of skin cancer, you have reached a threshold of UV-radiation damage, putting you at higher risk of developing additional skin cancers.

To learn more about Cooper Clinic Dermatology services, visit cooperclinicdermatology.com or call 972.367.6000.

Article provided by Cooper Aerobics Marketing and Communications.