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The Skin and Cancer Center of New York
The Corinthian Building
345 East 37th Street
Suite 317
New York, NY 10016
The American Skin and Cancer Center
25 First Avenue
Suite 113
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
West Coast Skin and Cancer Medical Center
7055 North Fresno Street
Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93720
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Skin
Cancer Detection
 Everyone should have a complete skin exam at least once a year by
their dermatologist. Those who have a history of skin cancer should be
examined more frequently - every 3 to 6 months depending on one's
individual history. Examining one's own moles is also recommended.
Becoming familiar with your own moles and beauty marks will help you spot
changes.
Prevention of Skin Cancer
Sun protection is the single and most important thing that a person can do
to prevent skin cancer. Wearing protective clothing, such as a hat,
long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and sunglasses is helpful. Sunscreen use
is also important. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Look for
sunscreens that contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or Parsol 1789.
These are the most broad - spectrum sunscreens and will provide the
greatest amount of sunprotection. Reapplying sunscreen is also important.
All sunscreens should be reapplied at least every 1 to 2 hours, especially
if one is perspiring or involved in water sports.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
All skin cancer can be successfully treated if detected early. Many
different treatments are available for skin cancer. The specific treatment
will depend on the type and extent of the cancer. If you have been
diagnosed with skin cancer, your dermatologist can best advise you about
the best type of treatment for your specific diagnosis.
There are 3 common types of skin cancer:
• basal cell carcinoma,
• squamous cell carcinoma,
• malignant melanoma.
Skin cancer usually occurs with increased exposure to sunlight and is most
common in those people with lighter pigmentation. About 1 in 5 Americans
will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. Prevention of skin cancer
can be achieved by limiting one's exposure to the sun. Avoid the sun
between the hours of 10 AM to 3 PM. Wearing protective clothing Sunscreens
of an SPF of 15 or higher should be applied regularly and reapplied with
exposure to excessive perspiration and water.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
This skin cancer is the most common form of skin cancer. It usually
appears as a skin colored to red bump. It can occur anywhere on the body
and is very common on the face. Basal cell carcinoma rarely occurs in
dark-skinned people. Rather, it is most frequent in people with fair skin,
light hair and eyes, and those who do not tan easily. Basal cell carcinoma
grows very slowly and usually does not spread to other organs of the body,
but is usually confined to skin.
Malignant Melanoma
This is the most serious of all skin cancers. The incidence of melanoma is
increasing, with a predicted rate of 1 in 75 people in developing melanoma
in their lifetime. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body. It may occur
in a previously existing mole or it can arise as a new mole. Suspicious
signs of melanoma can be summarized by the A,B,C,D's. "A" stands for
asymmetry. Moles that are not perfectly round may be a melanoma. "B"
represents the border of the mole. An irregular border or edge of the mole
may be an indicator of melanoma. "C" stands for color. Look for uneven
coloration or different colors in the mole as an indicator of melanoma.
"D" represents diameter. Moles larger than half a centimeter (or the size
of an eraser on a #2 pencil) are more suspicious for melanoma.
What Are The Symptoms Of Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer first appears as a growth, or abnormal accumulation of cells.
It sometimes takes the form of a sore or pimple that does not heal. The
sore may bleed or ooze fluid, crust or scab over, and then ooze or bleed
again. Cancer can occur on almost area of the skin, but is most common on
areas often exposed to the sun. Skin cancer usually is painless.
Symptoms Of Skin Cancer
The most common symptoms are:
1. A new growth on the skin.
2. A change in an existing skin growth.
3. A sore that does not heal.
Not all changes in the skin are symptoms of skin cancer. Most moles and
other growths are harmless and do not need to be removed. Moles that are
unattractive, or in areas where they are constantly irritated by clothing,
can be removed by a doctor.
The average person has dozens of moles and other skin growths that are
benign or noncancerous. They include:
- Birthmarks, or "congenital nevi," are moles that are present at birth.
- Acquired moles begin to develop early in
adolescence, growing and darkening throughout the teenage years. Many
adults have 40-60 acquired moles.
- Liver spots, or "solar lentigines," are flat tan-to-brown spots that
occur mainly on the face, neck, hands, and forearms. They have nothing to
do with the liver. Rather, they develop as a result of aging and sun
exposure.
- Seborrheic keratoses are raised, wart-like, tan-to-brown growths that
occur as people age.
- Acquired cherry angiomas are smooth, dome-shaped red spots that usually
develop on the chest and back. Most are bright red, and appear as people
age.
- Skin tags are small, soft flaps of skin that grow on the neck, in the
armpits, and groin area are caused by repeated friction.
- Actinic keratoses are slightly scaly, reddish patches that form on
people with sun-damaged skin. They are precancerousgrowths that may
changes into a squamous cell carcinoma. That's why doctors recommend
removal of actinic keratoses.
How Can You Tell If A Mole Is Cancerous?
Although most skin growths are not cancer, it's important to check with
the doctor about new growths or changes in old growths. When growths
become cancerous, they may change in size or color, or become sores that
do not heal.
Doing a regular skin self-examination is a good way to monitor the skin
for early symptoms of skin cancer. Skin self examination is especially
important for people who have had skin cancer. It can detect new cancers,
and recurrences of past cancer, at an early and most curable stage.
How-To Information:
When doing a skin self-examination, take special care in looking for
growths that may be melanoma. Check with the doctor immediately if any
moles show the danger signs. They can be remembered by thinking of the
ABCDs of malignant melanoma.
Asymmetry - when one half of the growth has a different shape than the
other.
Border irregular - when the growth has scalloped or uneven edges
Color varied - with the growth is more than one color. Melanomas may be
black, shades of brown and tan, and even have specks of red, white, and
blue.
Diameter - a size, measured edge to edge, bigger than the diameter of a
pencil eraser.
Where Does Skin Cancer Usually Develop?
Basal cell carcinomas usually occur on parts of the body that are often
exposed to the sun. These are the face, neck, V-shaped area of the chest,
and upper back. They occur less often on the top sides of the arms and
hands.
These tumors sometimes look like a sore or pimple that does not heal.
They may ooze yellowish fluid, crust over with a scab, and then break down
and ooze again.
When the surrounding skin is stretched, a basal cell carcinoma has a
pearly gray look, with tiny blood vessels often visible inside the tumor.
Squamous cell carcinomas also appear most often on the face and neck,
V-shaped are of the chest, and upper back. They are more likely than basal
cells carcinomas to form on the top of the arms and hands.
Squamous cell carcinomas look like an inflamed (pinkish or reddish), scaly
growth that feels sore or tender.
Some may repeatedly break open, bleed, and crust - never fully healing.
Malignant melanomas usually form on the trunk (the area of the body
between the neck and the hips) or legs. These areas don't get constant sun
exposure. Rather, they are areas that get periodic intense exposure and
sun burn.
Melanomas may form from an existing mole or freckle, or begin to grow from
a normal-appearing area of the skin.
Moles and freckles are usually light to dark brown and have a clear-cut
edge or border.
Melanomas usually are multi-colored. The may combine different shades of
brown and black, sometimes with areas of red, white or blue.
They often have an irregular or uneven border.
They may sometimes bleed.
How can I tell if a skin growth is dangerous? Is there any special
appearance that I should watch for?
Only a doctor can tell between a benign growth and cancer. Sometimes, it
takes a biopsy for the doctor to be sure. In general, however, be alert
for growths that enlarge and ooze fluid or blood, crust or clot over, and
then ooze or bleed again. A sore that doesn't heal after a week or two may
be cancerous. Be on the lookout for moles or skin spots that are:
Bigger from edge to edge than a pencil eraser
Have uneven or ragged edges
Show combinations of more than one color
Have a different appearance on one half than on the other
Those are warning signs of possible skin cancer.
If you have any questions about skin
cancer, skin cancer detection,skin cancer removal, or any questions about our dermatology or dermatopathology procedures please feel free to contact Board Certified
Dermatologist, Board Certified Dermatopathologist, Babar K. Rao, MD, FAAD
at his Manhattan, New York, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, or Fresno,
California offices.
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