Skin Cancer Myths and Facts

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Skin CancerMyths and Facts

• Tiffany Spicer
• Heidi Borgens

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Skin Cancer Stats

• App. 1 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed
  EACH YEAR in the US
• 90 are basal and squamous cell carcinoma
• 9800 deaths in 2003, 7600 from malignant melanoma
• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US,
  almost ½ of cancer diagnosis
• Whites have 4 times higher incidence rates than
  Hispanics and Asians

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Stats Continued

• All 3 are more common in men than women
• Almost everyone older than 65 will have at least
  one skin cancer
• 65-90 of melanoma cases caused by UV exposure

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common.
• Tumorous cells start below squamous layer and
  grow out
• Dont usually invade lymph and blood vessels
• Dont metastisize beyond skin, but will spread to
  adjacent structures.
• Risk is sunlight exposure in light skinned people
• Slow tumor growth rate

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Tumor of the epidermis
• Caused by sunlight
• 75 of cases on the head
• Exact mechanism is unkown
• Usually arises from premalignant lesions, not
  often from normal skin
• Can grow more rapidly than basal cell, and invade
  lymph nodes
• Can grow and metsize quick if not removed

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Melanoma

• Most dangerous type of skin cancer.
• -highly metastatic
• -resistant to chemotherapy
• Account for 5-10
• Incidence increasing rapidly, 3-8/yr in the US
• 2/3rd of cases develop spontaneously, 1/3rd begin
  from already existing lesions

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Melanoma cont

• Higher incidence in southern regions of US than
  northern
• Linked to excessive sun exposure and burns first
  18 years of life
• Other possible causes immune system deficiency
  and genetic factors (family hx)

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Treatment and Cure Rate

• The key for all three types is early detection.
• Melanoma Catch quick! Survival rate is poor if
  lesion is gt4mm.
• Basal Cell over 30 of white people get it in
  their lifetime.
• Cure for basal and squamous cell cancer is
  virtually guaranteed w/early detection and
  treatment.

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Melanoma

• Arises from melanocytes
• Can occur anywhere on body
• Usually arise from already present nevi.
• Lesion may have scaly or flakey texture
• Color may be brown, to pink to purple or mixed
  pigmentation.

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

• More common in men
• Nodular, pigmented lesion, with depressed centers
  and rolled borders.
• Small, raised pearly smooth bump
• Ulcerates, becomes crusty and is firm to the
  touch, as it grows.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Typically appears on head and neck
• Begins as scaly, red patch with sharply
  demarcated border.
• As it develops, becomes
• elevated, soft and mobile.

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Early Characteristics (AAD, ACS melanoma

• A- asymmetry not oval or round
• B- border is it poorly defined or irregular?
• C- color variegated or uneven?
• D- diameter often gt6mm
• E- elevation recently changed from flat to
• elevated
• F- feeling is there a sensation of itching,
  stinging or tingling to lesion?

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General Rules for nonmelanoma

• Sore/lesiojn that wont heal
• Areas of skin that are
• Raised, small, smooth, shiny and waxy
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Raised, small reddish-brown bump
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Scaly, bleeding, crusty
• Firm and similar to scar

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UV Rays Effects on Skin Cells

• It appears that UV rays disable a tumor
  suppressor gene (p53).
• UV-B rays are absorbed by DNA then the energy in
  the UV-B rays breaks the bonds in the DNA.
• Its the unrepaired genetic damage that leads to
  skin cancers via mutations.

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Sun Protection

• Sunblock reflect and scatter rays. They act as
  a barrier to UVRs.
• Sunscreen Absorb UVRs.
• Zinc oxide and titanium oxide
• SPF Rating scale showing you how long you can be
  in the sun before you get sunburned. EX. With
  SPF 30 you can be in the sun 30 times longer than
  you would be able to if you were not wearing
  sunscreen before you get burnt.

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Risk Factors

• Excessive exposure to UV rays from both the sun
  and tanning salons.
• Fair complexion
• Exposure to carcinogens (duh)
• Skin cancer negligible in blacks due to increased
  skin pigmentation.
• Family hx of skin

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Healthy Skin Behaviors

• ?

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Skin protection

• Try to avoid suns strongest rays between
  10am-4pm
• Wear sunscreen all year (at least SPF) all year
  for healthier skin
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100 UV protection
  (wrap-arounds)
• Hats, shade, clothesanything to shield skin from
  the sun

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Screening

• American Cancer Society skin exams every 3 years
  from ages 20-40
• Every year after age 40
• Monthly self-exams beginning at age 20

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References

• American Melanoma Foundation (2006). Facts about
  Sunscreen. Retrieved April 11, 2007, from
  http//www.melanomafoundat
• ion.org/prevention/facts.htm
• Centers for Disease Control. DSHS. (2007)
• Skin Cancer Prevention and Education
  Initiative. Retrieved April 11, 2007, from
• www.cdc.gov/cancer
• NASA (2007). Health Effects of UV-B Light.
• Retrieved May 1, 2007, from www.nas.
• nasa.gov/index.html

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References cont

• National Cancer Institute. MedNews (4/11/07).
  Treatment Statement for Patients. Skin Cancer.
  Retrieved April 11, 2007, from www.med.uni-bonn.de
  /cancer.
• gov/CDR0000258035.html
• Oregon Health and Sciences University (n.d).
  Dermatology Patient Care. Sunscreen Facts.
  Retrieved April 11, 2007, from www.oshu.edu/dermat
  ology/patients
• /sunscreen.php?SUN1

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More references

• US Food and Drug Administration. Center for
  Devices and Radiological Health (1996) The Darker
  Side of Tanning. Retrieved April 11, 2007, from
  www.fda.gov/cdrh/
• consumer/tanning.html
• Giddens, J. F. and Wilson, S. F., (2005). Health
  Assessment for Nursing Practice. Missouri
  Elsevier Mosby
• Huether, S. E., and McCance, K. L., (2004)
  Understanding Pathophysiology. Missouri Mosby

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For more info

• www.cdc.gov/cancer
• American Academy of Dermatology
• www.melanomafoundation.org
• www.oshu.edu/dermatology