Skin Cancer Information

Question: Skin Cancer Information? I just found out today that my Grandmother has Skin Cancer. I already had one Grandmother die of Cancer(Lung Cancer). But I just really need some information on skin cancer. How long can someone survive with skin cancer?

Answer: Skin cancer is in general MUCH LESS life threatening than lung cancer, and almost always very cureable. However, before being able to tell you for certain, there are a few things you must know. The most important of these is the TYPE (or histology) of the skin cancer. There are a number of different types, but the three most commonly seen are i) Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) ii) Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) and iii) Melanomas. Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Skin cancers are both in what is broadly termed "non-melanoma skin cancer." They are both VERY common; so much so that they are not even included in most quoted cancer stats. If small, these cancers are treated with small or larger surgery, but other treatments such as radiation or even surgery are possible for those in which surgery has failed or in which surgery is difficult. It should be noted that Basal Cell Carcinomas are almost never fatal and very rarely spread to the lymph nodes. Squamous cell carcinomas, if not caught reasonably early, may spread to the lymph nodes (still quite unlikely) and if this occurs, it is possible that the disease coudl prove fatal. Overall the cure rates for these cancers are over 90%. The only risk is that since these types of skin cancer are strongly associated with sun exposure, it is highly likely that others may develop. Melanomas on the other hand are - in general terms - much more serious. The primary treatment for these is surgery, and - except for very superficial lesions - the surgeon should also do a lymph node dissection of some sort either at surgery or on a different occasion. Melanomas are also qutie cureable, but the risks are much higher than with BCCs or SCCs. How high the risks of recurrence or mortality from melanomas depends a lot on the depth of the lesion, and whether or not the lymph nodes, or other organs are involved. If you grandmother has melanoma, and she wants to know what her risks are, she should have a detailed discussion with her oncologist or surgeon about the depth of the primary lesion (i.e the skin lesion) as well as whether or not the lymph nodes were involved and how this affects the likelihood of the melanoma returning. (Note: if lymph nodes are involved, it will be worth having a discussion about either radiation or interferon with a radiation or medical oncologist respectively.) I would agree strongly with the one respondent that it is important for your grandmother not to go into the doctor's office alone - especially if she has melanoma. Going through a diagnosis of cancer can greatly affect an individuals ability to hear and retain information that may later be vital to their friends and family as well as information that they need to make life decisions. Good luck!

Question: Any information on breast cancer skin metastasis? Can anyone direct me to site that has information on this? (Breastcancer.org, Breast Cancer Care, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Susan G Komen do not have this information.) Alternatively, can anyone tell me anything about the appearance of skin mets, and whether it only occurs near the site of the original tumour or can appear on other parts of the body? The limited information I've found so far seems to suggest skin metastasis occurs near the primary tumour or on the upper body. Does it ever occur further away, say on the limbs?

Answer: According to the Merck manual: Most skin metastases occur in the region of the breast surgery; scalp metastases also are common. (http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch253/ch… An excerpted page from Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology states: "the site of metastases was the scalp in 13.5% of their breast cancer patients, the face in 22.2%, the neck in 9%, the chest wall in 39%, the abdominal wall in 15% and other localisations in 30.5%" (http://www.springerlink.com/content/6rkr… A preview of the Manual of Clinical Oncology states: metastasis to the skin "typically involves the chest wall and scalp" (http://books.google.com/books?id=XrE3iO_… I believe the typical presentation of any metastasis is multiple lesions, more frequently than an isolated lesion. If I saw a lesion on my extremity, I'd be thinking MRSA before metastasis. Either way, you know the drill ... get it checked right away.

Question: Skin cancer information anyone? Okay...I have been really parnoid over skin cance lately since I found out I may be at risk. I lather on sunscreen as much as I can but I have been sunburned really bad twice this summer. And I got burned on my legs. I woke up this morning and went to watch some t.v. I had my nightgown on an it was scrunched up a bit. I found a little red sopt on my thigh and I don't know what it is. My mom said no need to worry but I am worried. It feels and looks like a little red scab and I think I heard somewhere that skin cancer can take the form of a scab. It's not super noticable though. HELP!!! It is about 1 cm in diameter. It is in the shape of a circle. Please help me!

Answer: Most of these little things that pop up on your skin turn out to be nothing. But if you're truly concerned, you should have it checked out by a dermatologist. If it turns out to be skin cancer, it's best to have it removed sooner rather than later so that it doesn't spread. But, again, it's probably nothing -- I'm 47 yrs old, have fair skin, used to bake in the sun for 2 hours at a time with no sunscreen. I have had one basal cell carcinoma (most harmless form of skin cancer) on my nose. I had a "full body check" a couple of months ago, and no more suspected skin cancer was found. Good luck. P.S. The best type of sunscreen to use is a full spectrum sunscreen. They're more expensive, but they protect against all the harmful rays. Regular sunscreens do not.

Question: Skin Cancer??? How likely is it that someone who has pre skin cancer will get skin cancer. How likely is it that someone dies from skin cancer??? Any information on skin cancer or pre skin cancer that you have would be great!

Answer: It depends on the amount of future exposure you have. Stay out of the sun and/or put on a ton of sunblock ALL the time. Do not tan - either on the beach or the tanning bed. Let's bring "white" back to fashionable! As for dying from skin cancer, it depends on the type you wind up with. Melanoma, what I had, is the biggest killer. Depending on the stage it was found and removed and whether it had already matastisised or not, it is generally safe to say 1 in 3 will see it return and it's usually not such great chances if it does. There's no cure! Your best bet is preventative.

Question: I'm having trouble finding a site with information about lung and skin cancer. I need info & statistics. Help? I need help finding information and statistics about lunk and skin cancer. Please help? Thanks, Cristina

Answer: To get very detailed info and statistics on lung cancer go to http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvL… Its's a site maintained by American Lung Association And for skin cacner, go to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/conten… It's a site maintained by American Cancer Society Actually there are many more sites dealing with these issues. I hope these help.

Question: what information should I collect to make a chart about skin cancer and marketing a sunscreen?

Answer: I would definately start with signs of skin cancer, types of skin cancer, what skin cancer might look like. I have a few links that you might find helpful.

Question: Will someone PLEASE give me information about basal cell skin cancer? I had this little bump underneath my nose for about 1-2 years, I just always thought it was a mole. It was the same color as my skin, and was very small, you couldn't even notice it unless you were looking really close. I went to a plastic surgeon to get it removed, and he thought it was a mole too. They did a biopsy on it, and it turns out that is was a basal cell skin cancer. Now I have to go back in about 3 weeks, and get more of the skin removed. I'm only 16, and I'm extremely nervous about all of this. Can someone please help me out, and tell me what basal skin cancer is like, and any other information you might know about it. Sorry this is so long, but I really need some reassurance right now. Thank you very much.

Answer: You’re only 16??!! Oh my, that is terrible. You are way too young for this stuff. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are very common skin cancers with more than 1 million cases per year in the United States. They are by far the most common cancers. However, they cause 0.1% of all deaths due to cancer. This is because they rarely metastasize and are pretty slow growing. The biggest problem is that you are likely to get it again, so you need to take every precaution to protect your skin for the rest of your life and you should have regular visits to a dermatologist so they may check for any new lesions. You also want to get to a doctor if you notice anything unusual, as you want to get them when they are small. Although they rarely lead to death or metastasize they can get deep and invade cartilage or bone and you want to minimize the amount of skin that has to be removed, especially if it is on your face. Best wishes.

Question: Where can I find reliable information on numbers of skin cancer treatment procedures? I'd like to find some up-to-date information on the annual number of procedures carried out for the treatment of skin cancer (e.g. excision, Mohs surgery, cryosurgery etc.). Info from 2008 or 2007 would be great, for the US and/or Europe. The information would need to be from a reliable source and free (i.e. not from a paid-access database). I don't need actual figures - just some links will do - thanks! Thanks for the answers so far, but I was looking for numbers of procedures (specifically with regard to skin cancer excisions).

Answer: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/defaul… independent site

Question: What is the Scientific name for Skin Cancer? I just need the answer to that =] and if you have the information, the history of Skin Cancer (who discovered it ect ect) that would be AMAZING! thank you!

Answer: MELANOMA. "melan" (= melanocytes, the pigment cells of the skin) + "oma" (= tumour). Of which there are several different types. It was first described in the early 1800s. I believe a french doctor named Rene Laenec was the one. Any other homework you need done?

Question: How fast can skin cancer spread and grow? does it take days, weeks, or months? I see all of these things that say... you need to catch skin cancer early. But nothing says what early means, does this mean every time i see an abnormal thing on my skin i should run to the doctor? Or should I wait a day, or a week, or a month? When people go to the doctor and the cancer is in it's late stages, were they an hour too late, a day too late, a week too late, 10 years to late? Seriously... cancer sites need to put more information out there about rate of growth and timing.

Answer: There are several degrees of 'skin cancer' ... malignant melanoma (a mole with an uneven shape, raised, dark color or mixed color) is the very worst and you should see a doctor within two weeks of noticing a new mole that isn't perfectly round or is slightly raised. There is also keratosis ... skin cancer that older people get, especially when they have been sunburned when young. This looks like a freckle, but if you touch it there is some tenderness, as if it's a 'scab' ... show those to your doctor at your annual check up, or your next check up ... the doctor will 'watch' them for you, and if they turn to an 'active' cancer you will be advised you need surgical removal. Many people get these taken off in the office (outpatient surgery) and are just fine ... but a few go on to develop serious skin cancer or malignant melanoma later in the same spot.

Question: What is a catchy brochure title for skin cancer? I'm doing a brochure in school about the different types of skin cancer. (Basal, Squamous, and Melanoma) I have all my information down except for a title. I need a title that will catch someone's attention and read it. Does anyone want to help make a catchy title?

Answer: Brochures Click on a Title to view details and add it to cart. ABCDE's of Melanoma Basal Cell Carcinoma: The Most Common Skin Cancer Plastic Nevi (Atypical Moles) and Risk of Melanoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Second Most Common Skin Cancer Skin Cancer Prevention Tips Self-Examination Card Sunproofing Your Baby http://www.skincancer.org/apps/catalog/index.php?id=4

Question: How many people die from skin cancer yearly? I'm doing a biology project on skin cancer, and I'm making a brochure. I'm focusing on basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, but I just need this bit of information in general. So I just need to know how many people die of skin cancer in general, just an approximation. Thankss.

Answer: Melanoma is the least common skin cancer but it is potentially the most serious: there are over 8,000 new cases each year in the UK and 1,800 deaths. Over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the US yearly. About 80% are basal cell carcinoma, 16% are squamous cell carcinoma, and 4% are melanoma. The incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has been increasing over the past decades. Currently, between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers occur globally each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer and, according to Skin Cancer Foundation Statistics, one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. As ozone levels are depleted, the atmosphere loses more and more of its protective filter function and more solar UV radiation reaches the Earth's surface. It is estimated that a 10 per cent decrease in ozone levels will result in an additional 300,000 non-melanoma and 4,500 melanoma skin cancer cases. The global incidence of melanoma continues to increase – however, the main factors that predispose to the development of melanoma seem to be connected with recreational exposure to the sun and a history of sunburn. These factors lie within each individual's own responsibility.

Question: As much information as possible on skin cancer ! 10 points!!? yeah help!

Answer: This website is fantastic and tells you everything you need to know ...

Question: How much am I at risk for skin cancer? I have red hair and pale skin. I have a few freckles, but not as many as most red heads. When I was very young, it was fall and cold. My parents let me sit in the swings, and I fell asleep. It was a cloudy and cold day, but somehow my face got EXTREMELY sunburnt and it swelled. The doctor yelled at my mom a lot, and he said I would be permenently scarred, but it turns out, a small indent in my skin is only visibile when I give a big smile. I get sunburnt extremely easily if I don't wear sunscreen used on babies. I never ever get tan, just sunburnt, and I am the only redhead in my family. With this information, can you tell me how likey I am to develop skin cancer? I go to mexico/jamacia once every summer.

Answer: Since you are fair skinned, you have lower levels of melanin, a natural skin protectant, which makes you more vulnerable to sunburns and sun damage. Sun damage can contribute to skin cancer. You must be very cautious. I can't tell you how likely you are to get skin cancer, that has to do with genetics, but your history does predispose you. Is there a history of skin cancer in your family? The best thing to do is to be checked by a dermatologist regularly. If treated early, skin cancer is highly curable. If not it is deadly. My father died from melanoma, a form of skin cancer. He kept dismissing a skin abnormality. If it was treated earlier he could be alive today. Please take whatever precautions you can. Skin cancer can be very serious.

Question: If I want to be screened for skin cancer, do I see a dermatologist? Or is there another type of doctor or specialist that does this type of testing? My father died of skin cancer when he was 33 years old. I'm 25 now, with fair skin and freckles that i've had all my life and a few moles. I keep meaning to get myself checked, but I never have. Any information would be great! My older brother also had a few cancerous moles on his legs that they had to cut out. He says that they got everything and he is "cancer free". I just need to know what kind of doctor I should see.

Answer: I'm not sure the specifics, but I would see your family doctor if possible to have a check up, in order to get a referral screening with a dermatologist. In the meantime, be sure to wear your sunscreen! I can't stress that enough. If you're concerned about your moles, there are self screening tests here: Specialists often recommend the ABCD rule in checking for melanomas. These letters come from the following steps: * A symmetry. Moles are normally round. If a mole begins to take an unusual (asymmetric) shape, it may be cancerous. * B order. A normal mole has a clear-cut border with the surrounding skin. A cancerous mole has an uneven border. * C olor. Normal moles are tan or brown. A cancerous mole may be any mixture of red, white, blue, brown, purple, and/or black. * D iameter. A normal mole is usually less than 5 millimeters (.25 inches) in diameter. Any mole that grows larger than that size may be cancerous.

Question: if my doctor told me i have a 1/8 chance of getting skin cancer does that mean i am very likey to get it? my doctor said most people have a 1 out of 80 chance of getting skin caner but my odds are about 1 out of 8. because of my moless ....... I am 13 years old and am kinda worried about this ........so please any information on skin cancer and at all will help.thank you

Answer: You're at an increased risk, ten times the normal risk as a matter of fact. But that doesn't mean you'll get cancer. If I were you I would see this as a blessing because you are now armed with the knowledge of your own personal risks. You can now take preventive steps, such as yearly screenings, to reduce your chances of either developing or dying of skin cancer. This fact is especially true with skin cancer since it is highly curable if caught early.