Download Understanding Skin Cancer

Understanding Skin Cancer
Causes & Types
Risks Factors
Understanding UVB
Sun exposure
Prevention
What is the
largest organ
in the body?
The largest organ of the body
The Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and is
made up of a thin outer layer (called the
epidermis) and a thicker outer layer (called the
dermis). Below the dermis is the subcutaneous
tissue, which contains fat. Buried in the skin are
nerves that sense cold, heat, pain, pressure, and
touch. Sebaceous glands secrete a lubricating
substance called sebum. Deep within the skin
are your sweat glands, which produce
perspiration when you are too hot.
Without the skin
Come, Let’s Learn More to Protect
the Skin
What is skin cancer?
• Skin cancer is cells that undergo a
transformation causing uncontrolled
growth of abnormal cells in a layer of the
skin (grow and multiply without normal control).
• It attacks one out of every seven
Americans each year or one million yearly.
• Most common of all human cancers.
• Invades space of other tissue and take O2
and nutrients from them.
Three Major Types of Skin Cancers
• Basal Cell (BCC) although malignant,
unlikely to spread more than locally. Can
disfigure if not treated.
• Squamous Cell (SCC) although malignant,
unlikely to spread. Can disfigure if no
treated.
• Melanoma – malignant and highly
aggressive, spreading rapidly
BCC - SCC - Melanomas
• BCC – most common, starts as a papule,
enlarges and gets a central crater.
Typically only spreads locally
• SCC – begins as a firm red nodule or
scaly, crusted flat lesion. If not treated,
can spread
• Melanoma- can arise on normal skin or
existing mole, if not treated spreads
downward and spreads rapidly.
Pre-cancer
• Any change in existing growth on skin or
any new growth that does not heal or
ulcerates could indicate a skin cancer or
precancerous lesion.
• Key to successful treatment is early
detection. Most early skin cancers can be
removed in a simple outpatient procedure.
If not treated, can lead to disability or even
death.
ABCDs of Malignant Melanomas
• Asymmetry – one side does not look like
the other
• Borders – irregular or notched
• Color – black, tan, brown, red, blue, white
• Diameter – about the size of a pencil
erasure or larger but small changes could
be significant.
Examples ABCDs
What causes skin cancer?
• The total amount of sun exposure received
over many years and single over
exposures resulting in sunburn both can
cause skin cancer and are the main
causes.
• If you have a low immunity (your immune
system protects you. Some people with
multiple diseases have low immunity).
Strive to stay healthy.
Risk Factors - Other Causes
•
•
•
•
A family history of skin cancer
Living in sunny climates or high altitudes
Fair skin
Working outdoors or w/ hazardous
materials that are harmful to the skin
• Repeated exposure to X-rays
• Scarring from disease, injury, or burns
Understanding UVB/UVA/UVC
Radiation
• UVB radiation – is the smallest portion of UV radiation,
yet the most carcinogenic or cancer causing. The longer
wave-lengths of UVA, although less intense that UVB,
penetrate more deeply into the skin. UVA can have
damaging effects early in the AM and late in the day
because the longer wave-lengths are not reduced or
weakened by the atmosphere like UVB. The short wavelengths of UVC are absorbed entirely by the ozone in the
atmosphere. The ratio of UVA to UVB emitted from
tanning bed lamps vary depending on the manufacturer.
UV Radiation
• Due to the changing angle of the sun and
the absorption of solar radiation by our
atmosphere, the intensity of UV radiation
striking the surface of the earth at noon is
twice as strong as radiation striking the
earth in the early morning and late
afternoon.
UV and DNA
• UVA and UVB absorption by DNA and other
structures inside the nuclei of skin cells lead to
cellular and molecular damage (sunburn),
including pain, inflammation, swelling, and loss
of function.
• Incomplete or incorrect repair of UV radiation
induced DNA damage is largely responsible for
the growth of precancerous cells and malignant
cells.
Prevention
• Be proactive and ready for outdoors events by keeping
sunscreen/sunblock readily available. Use SPF 30
• The higher the SPF rating of sunscreen, the longer it
takes for sunlight to damage the skin.
• Always use sunscreen/sunblock. Sunscreens weaken
UV radiation before it causes damage to DNA in the
nuclei of skin cells. Sunscreens also absorb UV
radiation within spaces between the skin cells, converts
it to specific chemicals, and re-release the energy as
insignificant amounts of heat. Sunblocks prevent UV
radiation from entering skin cells.
Prevention
• Re-apply sunscreen often, especially if
you are in the sun for long periods
• Limit your sun exposure if you do not have
sun screen, especially between 10 & 2.
• Stay out of tanning beds
• Conduct monthly self checks
• Wear a wide brimmed hat
Tumor invading the skin
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How to Perform a Skin Self-Exam
Home Public Center Skin Cancer Exams Save Lives How to Perform a Self Exam
Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then look at the right
and left sides with your arms raised.
Bend elbows and look carefully at forearms, upper underarms, and
palms.
Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes,
and on the sole.
Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part hair
for a closer look.
Finally, check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology. All rights reserved.
Stay out of the Sun, run, run, run