Skin Cancer

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Skin Cancer Statistics

Global Statistics

Skin melanoma is the 17th most common form of cancer globally and affected around 150,000 people in 2020. It is also the 13th most common cancer in men and the 15th most frequent cancer in women.

Indian Statistics

As per a new study conducted by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), some parts of India are more exposed to the risk of skin cancer than others.

What is Skin Cancer & What Causes it?

Cancer starting in the outermost skin layer, the epidermis, is referred to as skin cancer.

It is caused because of accelerated growth of skin cells due to unrepaired DNA damage.

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Types of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is primarily of seven types:

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

Starting in the basal cells, basal cell carcinoma appears on the skin surface and does not spread to other body parts. It is one of the most common skin cancer with around 80% of cases.

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Squamous Cell Cancer

Starting in the squamous cells, Squamous cell cancer affects the outermost layer of the epidermis. Squamous cell cancer is referred to as cutaneous squamous cell cancer. It is the second most common form of skin cancer.

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Melanoma

Starting in the skin pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, Melanoma can develop in any part of the body. It can also spread to other parts of the body if untreated.

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Merkel Cell Skin Cancer

Starting in the Merkel cells, Merkel cell skin cancer is a rare form of skin cancer. It can spread to the other body parts quickly if untreated.

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Skin Lymphoma

Starting in the lymphocytes of the skin, skin lymphoma is also referred to as cutaneous lymphoma and causes irregular growth of white blood cells on the skin.

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Kaposi Sarcoma

Another uncommon skin cancer is Kaposi sarcoma. It usually appears as a red, brown, or purple patch or tumor on the leg, feet or face skin. The patches or tumors are also called lesions and they can also appear in the genital area, mouth or lymph nodes. Kaposi sarcoma can spread to other body parts and become life-threatening.

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Actin Keratosis

Actin keratosis is the small red, pink, or brown patches on the non-cancerous skin but is considered a form of precancer and if untreated can develop into squamous cell carcinoma.

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What are the Risk Factors?

Skin cancer is caused by several reasons, but a few common ones are mentioned below:

Disclaimer: Having one or all of the below listed factors, does not necessarily mean it is Cancer. Get in touch with our Cancer Expert today to know more.

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Stages of Skin Cancer

Staging is used to mark the growth and spread of cancer which then helps doctors formulate the most-suited treatment plan.

According to Stanford Health Care, skin cancer is categorized into two groups :

  • Melanoma
  • Non-melanoma skin cancer

Melanoma Skin Cancer staging:

Melanoma is normally staged using the TNM system, where:

  • T represents tumor thickness and depth
  • N represents tumor spread to lymph nodes
  • M represents tumor metastasis or spread to other body parts

Once the TNM staging is done, melanoma is further classified using a numeric staging system, where stage 0 represents the start of cancer and stage 1 to 4 represents its growth and spread to neighbouring body parts.

Non-melanoma Skin Cancer staging:

  • Stage 0 (in-situ): represents the start of cancer in the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis.
  • Stage I: represents the spread of cancer in the dermis layer of the skin but not longer than 2 centimeters.
  • Stage II: represents the growth of cancer in the dermis layer. At this stage, the tumor is bigger than 2 centimeters.
  • Stage III: represents the spread of cancer to other body parts. At this stage, the tumor is larger than 3 centimeters.
  • Stage IV: represents the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes and bone or tissue. At this stage, it is bigger than 3 centimeters.

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Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer

Symptoms of skin cancer depend on the cancer type. However, some of the common signs include:

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Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is diagnosed using the following methods :

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Treatment of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer treatment depends upon the following factors:

The treatment methods include :

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What's New in Skin Cancer Research?

Ongoing clinical trials in skin cancer aim to find better and less toxic treatment methods.

The top three news precis from the latest research are

  1. There are numerous ongoing clinical trials to find a combination of radiation therapy and drugs to target EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) to treat advanced or metastatic cancer.
  2. Scientists across the world are trying to find the link between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) and Merkel cell cancer tumor, including if the presence or absence of this virus in Merkel cell cancer tumor could ask for varied treatment approaches.
  3. Doctors are working on finding if the combination of hedgehog inhibitors with other treatment methods, such as surgery and radiation therapy, could result in better treatment of basal cell carcinomas which currently are extremely difficult to treat.

Get in Touch with our Skin Cancer Expert

If you are experiencing anything unusual on your skin or exhibit any signs of Skin Cancer, it is advised to get it checked at the earliest. Find your nearest expert today.

FAQs

Look for any abnormal mole, lesions or patch growth on the body’s skin. You can check yourself in a well-lit environment using a mirror. If any unusual sign is visible and it stays for over 3 weeks then it is best to consult a dermatologist at the earliest.

You can prevent skin cancer by limiting your sun exposure (especially in the afternoon) and avoiding tanning beds. It is advised to use sunscreen regularly and be mindful of sun-sensitizing medications.

The 5-year survival rate of skin cancer patients depends upon the cancer type, stage and spread. However, for melanoma patients, the survival rate is between 30% to 99%.

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