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Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and is caused by abnormal growth of skin cells. Skin cancer can be caused by sun exposure and smoking.

500 Questions

Cancer of the deepest layers of skin?

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Asked by Wiki User

Cancer that originates in the deepest layers of the skin is often referred to as "melanoma." Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells responsible for giving color to the skin. Melanoma can develop in any part of the body where melanocytes are present, but it is most commonly found on the skin.

Key characteristics of melanoma include:

Color Changes:

Melanomas often have uneven coloring, with variations in shades of brown, black, or even red and blue.

Asymmetry:

Melanomas are typically asymmetrical, meaning one half of the mole or lesion does not match the other half.

Irregular Borders:

The borders of a melanoma are usually irregular, with edges that may be notched or blurred.

Diameter:

Melanomas often have a larger diameter compared to common moles. They may be larger than the size of a pencil eraser.

Evolution or Change Over Time:

Melanomas may change in size, shape, or color over time. Any new or changing mole should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Elevated Surface:

While melanomas can be flat, some may have an elevated or raised surface.

It's important to note that melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. Regular skin self-examinations and annual skin checks by a dermatologist can aid in early detection.

If you notice any suspicious changes in moles or new pigmented lesions on your skin, it is crucial to seek prompt medical attention for evaluation and, if necessary, biopsy. Early detection and treatment significantly improve the chances of successful outcomes in melanoma cases.

Is malignant melanoma skin cancer derived from epithelial cells?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, malignant melanoma is not derived from epithelial cells. Unlike common skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which originate from epithelial cells in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), malignant melanoma arises from melanocytes. Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells found in the basal layer of the epidermis.

Malignant melanoma is known for its potential aggressiveness and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early.

In summary, melanoma is a type of skin cancer derived from melanocytes, not epithelial cells.

If anyone is pursuing course in dermatology and looking for in depth knowledge in that area can consider opting for this online course - Dermatology MD by Dr Rashmi Sarkar and Dr S. Sacchidanand on DigiNerve.

This course is extremely helpful and enhances the understanding of the students with well-illustrated video lectures and notes.

It also provides benchmark trials, spotters, and self-assessment for self-evaluation.

What two things that cause cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

Cancer is a complex and multifactorial disease, and it typically results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Identifying specific causes for cancer is challenging due to the diversity of cancer types and individual variations. However, two broad categories of factors associated with an increased risk of cancer are:

Genetic Factors:

Inherited Mutations: Certain genetic mutations can increase the likelihood of developing cancer. These mutations can be inherited from parents or arise spontaneously.

Family History: Having close relatives with a history of certain cancers may indicate a genetic predisposition.

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors:

Tobacco Use: Smoking and tobacco use are major causes of various cancers, including lung, throat, mouth, and bladder cancer.

Diet and Physical Activity: Poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, and obesity have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers.

Exposure to Carcinogens: Occupational exposure to certain chemicals and substances, as well as environmental exposures to pollutants and radiation, may contribute to cancer risk.

Infections: Some infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori, are associated with an elevated risk of specific cancers.

Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources is a known risk factor for skin cancer.

What laser treatment protects from skin cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

Laser treatments are not typically used as a primary method to protect or prevent skin cancer. However, lasers may be employed in certain situations as part of the treatment for precancerous or cancerous skin conditions. Here are a few instances where lasers might be used:

Actinic Keratosis (Precancerous Lesions): Lasers, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or erbium YAG lasers, may be used to remove actinic keratosis, which are precancerous lesions caused by sun damage.

Superficial Skin Cancers: Laser therapy might be considered for certain superficial skin cancers, particularly non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, traditional surgical methods, such as excision or Mohs surgery, are more common for treating these types of skin cancers.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): While not a laser treatment per se, PDT involves the use of light (often from a laser) to activate a photosensitizing agent applied to the skin. It is sometimes used for treating certain precancerous lesions and superficial skin cancers.

Is there treatment for skin cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

Yes, there are several treatment options available for skin cancer, and the choice of treatment depends on the type of skin cancer, its size, location, and the overall health of the patient. The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):

These are the most common types of skin cancer and are often referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers. Treatment options for BCC and SCC may include:

Surgery: Surgical removal of the cancerous tissue is a common and effective treatment for both BCC and SCC.

Mohs Surgery: A specialized surgical technique used for removing certain skin cancers layer by layer, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Cryotherapy: Freezing the cancer cells using liquid nitrogen.

Electrosurgery: Using high-frequency electrical currents to remove the tumor.

Topical Medications: Prescription creams or ointments may be used for certain superficial skin cancers.

Melanoma:

Melanoma is a more aggressive form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Treatment options may include:

Surgery: The primary treatment for early-stage melanoma involves surgical removal of the tumor. In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed to determine if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Immunotherapy: This treatment stimulates the body's immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

Targeted Therapy: Medications that target specific genetic mutations or proteins involved in the growth of melanoma cells.

Chemotherapy: In cases where melanoma has spread, chemotherapy may be used to kill cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy may be used for certain skin cancers, particularly when surgery is not feasible or for treating tumors in specific locations.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT):

PDT involves applying a photosensitizing agent to the skin, which is then activated by a light source to destroy abnormal cells.

What happens if you leave an illness untreated?

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Asked by Leaheider

what happens if you don't get treated for scabies

What do you tell a doctor when you might have skin cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

You make an appointment with him and let him decide if it's skin cancer and go from there.

What would a pea sized painful bump behind right ear be?

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Asked by Wiki User

probably a cyst,specially if hurts is a kind of inflamation that couldn't get out and gets into a cyste! if doesnt burst open,go to a doctor and get it extracted.

What form of skin cancer causes blue spots under the skin?

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Asked by Wiki User

Hello,

Please let a medical professional see it. I went to a dermatologist who looked at a black or dark blue mark that was not circular, but shaped more or less like a piece of rice. That was not a common, normal mark.

They did a biopsy & results are not back yet, but said the spot I have potentially looks like a classic precancerous mark. I have only one spot like this, and it's not big. But it's different & not something to ignore.

Don't be alarmed, & don't let nonprofessionals attempt to diagnose your mark! See a real dermatologist who's professionally certified to know. Your personal physician likely does not have the right training and expertise. See someone who does for one visit - just to be safe & sure!

Fyi - My biopsies were TOTALLY PAIN FREE! Not what I expected... I was given a shot first to numb the area, had no sensation whatsoever of anything being removed. A tiny sample was all that was needed.

Now I'm comforted knowing if this proves to be bad, it's extremely in a early stage & easily treated. I learned a lot during my exam about what to look for, and likewise what is not of interest... Worth going once for a good appraisal & to learn what to be watching for...

Blue / black spots can mean different things. A properly trained professional can give you the right answer to this question (and even they may need to rely on test results to be certain!).

Call your city health department if you don't have insurance. They may know some way you can get a free screening...? One way or the other, have it checked - just to be safe...

How can ultraviolet light harm you?

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Asked by Wiki User

Excessive exposure over a long period of time can cause skin cancer.

When should a mole be removed?

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Asked by Wiki User

A mole should be removed if it starts to grow bigger, or if it appeared where there was previously not a mole. A mole can indicate bigger problems, such as skin cancer.

Can you survive 2nd stage skin cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

i dont think so. my friend died of it.

What effect towards the skin can effleurage cause?

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Asked by Wiki User

Its relaxing (: you may say this but its also

  • stimulation of the nervous system
  • stimulating blood supply to the tissues
  • improve circulation
  • muscles relaxes
  • stimulating lymph fluid flow.
  • stimulating the nerves in the tissues

Why is malignant melanoma cancer so dangerous?

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Asked by Wiki User

By definition CANCER is MALIGNANT - benign is NOT cancer, it is just a growth (tumor).

There are three main characteristics typical of malignant (cancer) and benign (non-cancerous), for example:

  • Malignant cancers are usually fast growing (as opposed to benign cancers which are usually slow growing);
  • Malignant cancers invade the tissue, in fact the name cancer means "crab", because it invades the surrounding tissue and looks like a crab (benign cancers are usually encapsulated, therefore, do not invade the surrounding tissue);
  • Malignant cancer cells are undifferentiated, which means that they regress back to simple cells and loose their main functions (benign cancer cells are usually well differentiated).

There are exceptions. For example, kidney cancer may look benign because it's usually encapsulated, but it is actually malignant.

Can moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma be cured?

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Asked by Wiki User

From a previous answer from Answers.com:

Absolutely! Moderately to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is treatable - these terms refer to the histologic grade of the tumor (how "bad" or "disorganized" it is). Well-differentiated SCC forms "keratin pearls" - or balls of skinn epithelium - within the tumor. Moderately to poorly differentiated tend not to do so, and instead are made of sheets of what can be "ugly"-looking cell.

The bottom line is that prognostically - in predicting a given patient's outcome - histological grade of SCC is not related very well at all to how well a patient will respond to treatment. The SIZE of the tumor and whether and lymph nodes are positive for metastasis of the tumor are much more predictive than the degree of differentiation.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Is_moderate_to_poorly_differentiated_squamous_cell_carcinoma_treatable#ixzz1RTEm1slp

How can smoking lead to cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

the most common cancers of smoking/second hand smoke are heart and lung cancer, depending on how exposed you are to the smoke of a cigarette, you more than likey will not get cancer, unless your parent, grandparent may have cancer, then you may get some sort of cancer

What are the demographics for skin cancer?

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Asked by GaleEncyofSurgery

Overall, ovarian cancer accounts for only 4% of all cancers in women.The incidence of ovarian cancer is highest among American Indian.Caucasian.Vietnamese.Caucasian Hispanic.and Hawaiian.women; it is lowest among Korean and Chinese.women.

If you have a Cancer sign does it mean you have cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

a cancer is a killer disease.... but now it is curable on this time because of technology...

a sign of a cancer has a mass on the parts that you have a cancer for example if you have a lung cancer in x ray a mass is located in your lungs that's all thank you

How is the bone affected by skin cancer?

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Asked by Wiki User

If you feel you have an abnormal bump in a part of you skeleton where joints are not supposed to be.

Which cancer of the cells of the epithelium spreads quickly to other body systems?

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Asked by Wiki User

Yes it is one of the fastest spreading types of cancers. Depending on where the primary cancer is dictates where its spread to. The only cancer that I know off hand that spreads faster is small cell lung cancer. Merkle cell also spreads far but is very radiosensitive. Squamous is too, but not so much and its quicker to spread. If its a squamous cell skin cancer just have it excised and if needed followed up with chemo and/or radiation, it doesnt metastasize as quickly as if it were inside an organ.

Why moles are coming suddenly?

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Asked by Wiki User

It doesnt harm ur skin. If it is coming one or two not an issue. If it is more then u need get a suggestion from skin doctor.

How does global warming affect skin cancer?

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Asked by Natavia

No, it does not increase incidences of skin cancer.

How do you apply sunscreen?

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Asked by Wiki User

Squeeze a small amount into your hand, don't squeeze out too much a little goes a long way. Then rub into your arms until the sunscreen is spread out evenly and there shouldn't be much, if any, white residue. Continue to apply sunscreen to your legs and abdomen; be sure to get your shoulders and the back of your neck. Now you will need someone's help to apply it on you back. Lastly take just a small amount of sunscreen and rub it around your face. Be sure to reapply sunscreen as needed, usually every hour or so.