skin cancer (redirected from Facts on skin cancer)

skin cancer,

a cutaneous neoplasm caused by ionizing radiation; certain genetic defects; chemical carcinogens, including arsenics, petroleum, tar products, and fumes from some molten metals; or overexposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet light. Skin cancers, the most common and most curable malignancies, are also the most frequent secondary lesions in patients with cancer in other sites. The major risk factor is overexposure to sunlight. Other risk factors include a fair complexion, xeroderma pigmentosa, vitiligo, senile and seborrheic keratitis, Bowen's disease, radiation dermatitis, and hereditary basal cell nevus syndrome. The most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. Tumors of the sebaceous glands or sweat glands occur infrequently and are adenocarcinomas. Melanoma is a highly metastatic cancer that has increased in incidence during the past 30 years. Basal cell carcinomas, typically raised hard reddish lesions with a pearly surface, rarely metastasize. Scaly, slightly elevated squamous cell tumors may become growths with extensive ulceration and a nonhealing scab. A definitive diagnosis may be established by incisional biopsy or excisional biopsy, which may be the only treatment required for small lesions. Surgery is usually indicated if the lesion is large, if bone or cartilage is invaded, or if lymph nodes are involved. Radiotherapy may be preferable for some smaller facial lesions and is commonly recommended for the treatment of skin tumors without distinct margins. Because of the possibility of recurrence of cancer, surgery is favored for the treatment of younger patients. Despite the curability of skin cancer, it causes many deaths because people fail to obtain treatment. Lesions caused by actinic rays may be prevented by applying a sunscreen. See also melanoma.

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skin

the outer covering and largest organ of the body. It serves as a protective barrier against microorganisms, helps shield delicate tissues underneath from mechanical and other injuries, insulates against heat and cold, and helps eliminate body wastes. It guards against ultraviolet radiation by producing a protective pigment and it helps produce vitamin D. Its sense receptors detect pain, cold, heat, touch and pressure.

The skin consists of an outer cellular, avascular epidermis, and an inner fibrous corium (dermis, true skin) resting upon a hypodermis of fat and panniculus muscle.

See also cutaneous, epidermal, epidermis.

Basic structure of the skin. By permission from McCurnin D, Poffenbarger EM, Small Animal Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Procedures, Saunders, 1991

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skin appendages

see hair, claw, hoof, horn, chestnut (1), ergot2, dewclaw, comb, wattle, spur (3), pad, footpad, beak, feather (1), cere, scale, fin, antler, bristle (1), wool, mohair, cashmere, angora.

skin-associated lymphoid tissues (SALT)

see skin-associated lymphoid tissue.

autoimmune skin disease

see autoimmune, pemphigus, lupus erythematosus.

skin biopsy

removal of a small section of skin for histopathological examination. See also keyes punch.

skin cancer

include squamous cell carcinoma, papilloma and fibropapilloma, intracutaneous cornifying epithelioma (keratoacanthoma), basal cell tumors and tumors of the adnexa, perianal gland and hair follicles.

congenital absence of skin

see epitheliogenesis imperfecta.

skin depigmentation

see hypopigmentation.

skin emphysema

see subcutaneous emphysema.

skin fold thickness

a measure of obesity in humans but not a valid indicator in dogs or cats as the skin lifts off the subcutaneous tissue.

skin fungal infection

see dermatomycosis, dermatophytosis.

skin gangrene

death of tissue and usually involves dermis, epidermis and subcutaneous tissue, e.g. severe saddle galls, heat burns, chemical burns, Claviceps purpurea poisoning. The affected area is cold and bluish in color. This changes to black and the area begins to lift at the edges and to dry out.

skin inflammation

see dermatitis.

skin leukosis

occurs in marek's disease. Called also cutaneous lymphosarcoma.

skin-maggot fly

see cordylobiaanthropophaga.

skin memory

see mnemodermia.

skin receptor

cutaneous sensory endorgans.

skin resiliency test

see skin tenting test (below).

skin tag

see fibrovascular papilloma.

skin tension lines

see tension line.

skin tenting test

a fold of skin is picked up and then quickly let go. The amount that it will stretch is an indication of its extensibility. The speed with which it returns to a normal position is determined by the degree of hydration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and the amount of fat in the subcutaneous tissue, e.g. in an animal that is 10 to 12% dehydrated the skin fold will not disappear until 20 to 45 seconds have elapsed.

Tenting of the skin in a dehydrated cow. By permission from Blowey RW, Weaver AD, Diseases and Disorders of Cattle, Mosby, 1997

skin test

application or intradermal injection of a substance to the skin to test the body's reaction to it. Such a test detects an animal's sensitivity to such allergens as dust and pollen, or to preparations of microorganisms believed to be the cause of a disorder.

There are several types of skin tests, including the patch test, the scratch test, and the intradermal test.

skin wool

scoured wool from a fellmonger.

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skin cancer

Oncology A cutaneous malignancy Nonmelanoma SCs BCC, SCC–up to 106 new cases/yr, ±2700 deaths Melanoma ±34,000 new cases/yr, very aggressive–±7000 deaths Biology 1º SC may be indolent, as in BCC, or serious, as in melanoma–depth of invasion is a critical prognostic parameter; metastatic SCs–eg, from breast, GI tract, have a poor prognosis. See Basal cell carcinoma, Melanoma, Squamous cell carcinoma.

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Patient discussion about Facts on skin cancer.

Q. is it dangerouse to stay in the sun even if you don't get burned? how bad is it if you only get a little tan? does it matter what is your skin type in the first place? is only getting burned dangerouse, or being in the sun alltogether?

A. It depends on skin type.

White skins are more prone to freckles and sunburn, and even worse, skin cancer than those who have darker skins. Most skin cancer patients are white-skinned.

Melanin, responsible for darkening of our skin. It is more dominant on people with darker skin than whiter skin. If the skin has high melanin content, they are less prone to have skin cancer.

It is not the sun who directly causes our skin to darken but the melanin. Melanin multiplies when we are exposed to sun.

By the way, this info doesn't intend to terrify white-skinned people but to be aware of our skin. We must take care of our largest organ in our body because it serves as a protection our inner organs.

Q. How can you know if a mole is a skin cancer or not? I'm only 15, but I’ve had this small thing on my right shoulder for a reeeeaaaally long time. It's the same color as my skin. It’s smaller than the head of a pencil eraser, perfectly round, and its smooth. I've never worried about it seriously, until about a week ago, when I read an article in a magazine about skin cancer. Even then I wouldn't have worried about it, because It didn't really match any of the symptoms, except one. It did bleed once about 2 1/2 years ago. And it said bleeding was a big sign I don't know, what do you think? And please try and say something other than," go have it checked out". Because I currently have no insurance. Thanks :]

A. First off; you should know about what dermatologists call the ABCDE's of skin cancer.
A: Asymetrical. If you draw an imaginary line through it, doe both sides appear to be mirror images of each other?
B: Borders. Does the mole have irregular, jagged, or rough borders?
C: Color: Is is dark; especially black or grey or blue and has it changed colors?
D: Diameter. Is it bigger than the tip of a pencil eraser?
E: Evolving. Has any of the preceding A,B,C, or D's changed?

Ask yourself or a loved one to run those tests on it. And as had been previously said; make an appointment with your dermatologist. They would be happy to remove any moles that may be suspisious or unsightly and determine if it is cancerous or not. Milian is right; a mere month can be the difference between life and death. Melanoma is deadly. Be smart and stay safe. Hope this helped.