The Skinny on Skin Cancer
Do you have a mole changing in color or a spot that won’t heal? It could be skin cancer! Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. One out of five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. While some may downplay the impact of skin cancer, the truth is every hour, more than two people die from skin cancer. The good news is that we can proactively prevent skin cancer, and most skin cancers can be treated successfully with surgery alone if caught early.
Skin cancer can occur anywhere you have skin, even on the palms, soles, nails, and those nooks and crannies you cannot see yourself unless you are in a crazy game of Twister with mirrors. Skin cancer often occurs on sun-exposed sites like your scalp, face, chest, arms, and hands. Mucosal skin, the wet skin that lines the nose, mouth and vaginal area, is also considered skin and is at risk for skin cancer too. Skin cancer forms when an error occurs in our skin cells’ DNA or genetic material. This error, or what most call a mutation, confuses the skin cells and makes them grow uncontrollably. Ultraviolet light from the sun’s rays is most commonly to blame for the mutations in our skin cells that cause skin cancer and wrinkling.
Generally, we think of three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. There are also more rare types of skin cancer, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The Parrotheads out there might be familiar with MCC since it was the cause of Jimmy Buffett’s death. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) comes from the basal cells that line the lower part of the epidermis (the first layer of your skin). BCCs can look like a pink shiny bump, a sore that won’t heal, or a pink scaly patch. Squamous cell carcinoma originates from the squamous cells that comprise most of the epidermis. SCCs can present as warty growths, pink crusted bumps, pink scaly patches, or a non-healing sore. Melanoma forms from cells known as melanocytes, which are mole cells. Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin, which gives your skin its color and protects it against the sun’s damaging rays. Melanomas may show features of what we call the ABCDEs.
A is for Asymmetrical. If you have a mole that is Asymmetrical, where one half does match the other half. B is for Border. If your mole has a curvy Border, that might be concerning. C stands for Color. Moles should be uniform in color. Melanomas tend to have more than one color, including brown, black, white, pink, gray, and blue. D is for Diameter and refers to size. If a mole is greater than 6 mm or about the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil, that could be suspicious. Finally, E is for Evolving. For example, if your mole changes in size, shape, or color, it should be checked out.
Now, you might think that skin cancer is just a condition for those in their golden years, but the truth is we diagnose and treat skin cancer in younger people as well. Melanoma is the third most diagnosed cancer for 25-39-year-olds in the United States. Just one blistering sunburn alone in childhood can double the risk of melanoma later in life. Because skin cancer risk increases over time due to long-term exposure to ultraviolet light, it’s important to start skin protection early and not to use a tanning bed. Skin cancer treatment can depend on the type and location of the skin cancer. Different treatment options include Mohs surgery, excision, cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), electrodessication and curettage, radiation, and topical therapy. More advanced skin cancers may require more extensive surgery, radiation, or systemic therapy like mutation targeted therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, which works with our immune systems to fight cancer.
Overall, skin cancer prevention should be our goal. The challenge is committing to following prevention tips and adjusting your lifestyle—how many times have you forgotten your hat or to apply sunscreen or didn’t realize the sun was so intense? More commonly, how many of you knew you were burning, or it was time to reapply but didn’t want to take a break to stop and put your sunscreen on? Sun protection takes work and a little dedication, but it’s doable. Below are some skin care prevention guidelines to help you enjoy the sun but in a smarter way.
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least an SPF 30 and reapply every 2 hours. Don’t forget the lips and scalp!
- Use sun-protective clothing with UPF, hat, and sunglasses when outdoors and seek shade.
- Don’t use tanning beds; opt for spray tans or self-tanners to get that bronzed glow.
- Check your skin monthly for suspicious spots or changes in your moles.
- See your dermatologist for a full-body professional skin exam.
Trotter’s Take: Skin cancer impacts many lives. Empower yourself with knowledge of how to prevent skin cancer. You can still live life and enjoy the sun—just do it while consciously committing to your skin health and sun safety regimen.
Want to know more about SCC, a common, yet lesser known type of skin cancer? Grab your hat and sunscreen and tune into Dr. Brent Moody as he gives you the inside scoop.
