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Types of Skin Cancer. 3 Types of Skin Cancer. Basal Cell Carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma. Non-melanoma skin cancer Small, fleshy bump or nodule on the head, neck, or hands Accounts for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States
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3 Types of Skin Cancer • Basal Cell Carcinoma • Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma • Non-melanoma skin cancer • Small, fleshy bump or nodule on the head, neck, or hands • Accounts for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States • Usually treated successfully—95% (American Academy of Dermatology)
Who is at Risk? • Most common skin cancer found in Caucasians • Light hair, eyes, and complexions • Do not tan easily
Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Non-melanoma carcinoma • May appear as nodules, or as red, rough/scaly/crusted patches of skin • Usually treated successfully—95% (American Academy of Dermatology)
Who is at Risk? • Second most common skin cancer found in Caucasians • Usually found on fair-skinned persons
Melanoma • May also be called cutaneous melanoma or malignant melanoma • Cancer cells are found in the melanocytes • Incidence of melanoma is lower than other types of skin cancer • Highest death rate (75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer)
Who is at Risk? • Blond or red hair • Blue eyes • Fair complexion • Family history of melanoma • Many ordinary moles (more than 50) • Many freckles • Immunosuppressive disorder • Sun exposure • Inability to tan
Other Factors • Heredity • Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium. • Elevation - ultraviolet light is stronger as elevation increases • Latitude - the rays of the sun are strongest near the equator. • Cloud cover - places with regular cloud cover may actually reduce UV
Is it a mole or melanoma? • Use the ABCDE rule • A = asymmetry • B = borders • C = color variation • D = diameter • E = evolving (changing)
Things to look for • A=Asymmetry (the left side of the lesion is unlike the right side)
Things to look for • B=Border Irregularity (the lesion has a scalloped or poorly defined border)
Things to look for • C=Color Variation (not all parts of the lesion are the same color; within the lesion may be patches of tan, brown, black, pink, white or blue)
Things to look for • D=Diameter (while melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If you notice a mole different from others, or which changes, itches or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6mm, you should see a dermatologist)
Things to look for • E=Evolving (Has the mole or skin lesion changed color, size or shape? Does it looks different than the others?)
References • Different Types Of Skin Cancer. In: Squidoo [discussion list on the Internet]. 2010; [cited 2010 July 13]. Available from: http://www.squidoo.com/differenttypesofskincancer • Skin Cancer. [discussion list on the Internet]. [University of Maryland Medicine]; 2003 May 16; [cited 2010 July 12]. Available from: http://www.umm.edu/skincancer/index.htm • The ABCDEs of moles and melanomas. In: Cancernetwork.com [discussion list on the Internet]. [UBM Medica]; 2010 Mar. 9; [cited 2010 July 13]. Available from: http://www.cancernetwork.com/cancer-management-12/coloratlas1/article/10165/1535070