Do you know one thing? Uncountable diseases are prevailing in this world. Among them, skin cancer is one of the most prevailing diseases. While taking about skin cancer, is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. It occurs when damage to skin cells—most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds—causes skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.
Skin cancer — the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur in areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Skin cancer may initially appear as a nodule, rash, or irregular patch on the surface of the skin. These spots may be raised and may ooze or bleed easily. As the cancer grows, the size or shape of the visible skin mass may change and the cancer may grow into deeper layers of the skin.
Types Of Skin Cancer:
Many of you may wonder about the types of skin cancer .so, in this article we are going to tell you about the types of skin cancer. There are mainly four types of skin cancer which are explained below.
1. Basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer begins in the lower part of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). It may appear as a small white or flesh-colored bump that grows slowly and may bleed. Basal cell carcinomas are usually found in areas of the body exposed to the sun.
a. Types:
There are four main clinical variants of basal cell carcinoma. These are nodular, superficial spreading, sclerosing, and pigmented basal cell carcinomas.
b. cause:
Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are caused by repeated and unprotected skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, as well as from man-made sources such as tanning beds. UV rays can damage the DNA inside skin cells.
c. Effect:
Basal cell carcinoma appears as a change in the skin, such as a growth or a sore that won’t heal. These changes in the skin (lesions) usually have one of the following characteristics: A shiny, skin-colored bump that’s translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface.
d. Symptoms:
- A shiny, skin-colored bump that’s translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface.
- A brown, black, or blue lesion — or a lesion with dark spots — with a slightly raised, translucent border.
- A flat, scaly patch with a raised edge.
- A white, waxy, scar-like lesion without a clearly defined border.
e. Treatment:
Basal cell carcinoma is most often treated with surgery to remove all of the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it. Options might include Surgical excision. In this procedure, your doctor cuts out the cancerous lesion and a surrounding margin of healthy skin.
f. Facts:
About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas (also called basal cell cancers). These cancers start in the basal cell layer, which is the lower part of the epidermis. These cancers usually develop in sun-exposed areas, especially the face, head, and neck. They tend to grow slowly.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma:
The cancer begins in cells that form the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been exposed to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time.
a. Types:
The primary types of squamous cell carcinoma are:
- Adenoid/pseudo glandular squamous cell carcinoma.
- Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Large cell keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma.
- Large cell non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma.
- Lymphoepithelial carcinoma.
- Papillary squamous cell carcinoma.
b. cause:
Most squamous cell carcinomas of the skin result from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, either from sunlight or from tanning beds or lamps. Avoiding UV light helps reduce your risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and other forms of skin cancer.
c. Effect:
Untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can destroy nearby healthy tissue, spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, and may be fatal, although this is uncommon. The risk of aggressive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin may be increased in cases where cancer: Is particularly large or deep.
d. Symptoms:
- A firm, red nodule.
- A flat sore with a scaly crust.
- A new sore or raised area on an old scar or ulcer.
- A rough, scaly patch on your lip that may evolve to an open sore.
- A red sore or rough patch inside your mouth.
- A red, raised patch or wartlike sore on or in the anus or on your genitals.
e. Treatment:
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. If squamous cell carcinoma spreads to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as targeted drug therapy and radiation therapy. Targeted drug therapy.
f. Facts:
According to one estimate, about 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the US (occurring in about 3.3 million Americans, as some people have more than one).
3. Merkel cell cancer.
Merkel cell carcinoma is a very rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the skin. Sun exposure and having a weak immune system can affect the risk of Merkel cell carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma usually appears as a single painless lump on sun-exposed skin. Merkel cell carcinoma most commonly spreads to your lymphatic system (lymph nodes) first. From there, it may spread to other parts of your body like your bones, lungs, brain, or other organs. Merkel cell carcinoma can be fatal.
a. Types:
Merkel cells are found in the top layer of the skin. These cells are very close to the nerve endings that receive the sensation of touch. Merkel cell carcinoma, also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular cancer, is a very rare type of skin cancer that forms when Merkel cells grow out of control.
b. cause:
Like many other types of skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma is more likely to occur in people who have been exposed to a lot of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or from other sources such as tanning beds. UV therapy for psoriasis increases the risk of developing Merkel cell cancer.
c. Effect:
Merkel cell carcinoma tends to travel first to nearby lymph nodes. Later it may spread to your brain, bones, liver or lungs, where it can interfere with the functioning of these organs. Cancer that has metastasized is more difficult to treat and can be fatal.
d. Symptoms:
- Merkel cell carcinoma can look like a sore.
- A red or pink spot.
- The reddish slightly raised spot that looks like a sore.
- Quickly growing spot on your skin that sometimes bleeds.
- Quickly growing, firm, dome-shaped growth.
- A stye or cyst.
- A growing sore.
- Any fast-growing spot or mass.
e. Treatment:
Treatment of stage IV Merkel cell carcinoma may include the following: Immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy using nivolumab or pembrolizumab). Chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
f. Facts:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is 40 times rare than melanoma, with an estimated one case per 130,000 people in the U.S. Risk factors for MCC includes sun exposure, fair skin, age over 50, and a weakened immune system.
4. Melanoma:
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. The main cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds. You can have melanoma without feeling any pain or discomfort. For many people, the only sign of this skin cancer is a spot that has some of the ABCDEs of melanoma or a line beneath a nail. Sometimes, melanoma causes discomfort.
a. Types:
There are 4 main types of melanoma skin cancer – superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo malign, and acral lentiginous.
b. cause:
The causes of melanoma are mentioned below:
- unprotected UV radiation exposure.
- a history of childhood tanning and sunburn.
- a pattern of short, intense periods of exposure to UV radiation.
- having a lot of moles (naevi) – more than 50 on the body and more than 10 above the elbows on the arms.
- increased numbers of unusual moles (dysplastic naevi)
c. Effect:
Often melanoma has no symptoms, however, the first sign is generally a change in an existing mole or the appearance of a new spot. These changes can include color – a mole may change in color, have different color shades, or become blotchy. size – a mole may appear to get bigger.
d. Symptoms:
color – a mole may change in color, have different color shades or become blotchy. size – a mole may appear to get bigger. shape – a mole may have an irregular shape, may increase in height or not be symmetrical. elevation – the mole may develop a raised area.
e. Treatment:
Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment for all stages of melanoma. A wide local excision is used to remove the melanoma and some of the normal tissue around it. Skin grafting (taking skin from another part of the body to replace the skin that is removed) may be done to cover the wound caused by surgery.
f. Facts:
Melanoma accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers diagnosed in the United States, but it causes most of the deaths from skin cancer. It is estimated that 7,990 deaths (5,420 men and 2,570 women) from melanoma will occur in the United States in 2023.
Tips for Healthy Skin
- Wash up.
- Block sun damage. Avoid intense sun exposure, use sunscreen, and wear protective clothing.
- Don’t use tanning beds or sunlamps. They emit the same harmful UV radiation as the sun.
- Avoid dry skin.
- Reduce stress.
- Get enough sleep.
- Speak up.
In Conclusion:
Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. If you have skin cancer, it is important to know which type you have because it affects your treatment options and your outlook (prognosis). If you aren’t sure which type of skin cancer you have, ask your doctor so you can get the right information. We hope this article was helpful to you. Please comment for more information.
ALSO READ: BEST WAYS TO GET SOUND SLEEP AT NIGHT