Skin Cancer | Medtick
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Skin Cancer

What is it?

Cancer of the skin.

  • This includes Basal Cell skin cancer  (which is the most common especially in light skinned  persons) and these tend to occur on sun exposed areas.
  • This includes Keratoacanthoma (volcano-like bump on the sun-exposed skin) and these tend to occur on  sun exposed areas.
  • Melanoma occurs most commonly on the trunk in White males and the lower legs and back in White females, but one still should check all over their body to see anything unusual.
  • Lentigo maligna is is typically located on the head, neck, and arms (chronically sun-damaged skin) but one still should check all over their body to see anything unusual.

Primary risk factors and clinical warning signs for melanoma include:

  • Changing mole (most important clinical warning sign)
  • Presence of xeroderma pigmentosum or familial atypical mole melanoma syndrome
  • Clinical atypical/dysplastic nevi in familial melanoma
  • Sporadic (nonfamilial) clinical atypical/dysplastic nevi (particularly > 5-10 nevi)
  • Melanoma in first-degree relative (especially multiple relatives)
  • A large number of common nevi (> 100)
  • Previous melanoma
  • Male sex
  • Age older than 50 years
  • Sun sensitivity or a history of excessive sun exposure or sunburns
  • Large (giant) congenital nevi (> 20 cm diameter)
  • Prior nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma)
  • Immunosuppression

Medscape

Person with new skin condition and/or  many moles and unusual moles should check themselves once a month and should be checked by your medical doctor/dermatologist every 4–12 months depending on their past history/ family history and /or sun exposure or if one experienced anything unusual.

Cause

  • Sun exposure
    • High lifetime ambient UVA exposure is associated with an increased risk for melanoma.
    • UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are present even on cloudy days and through window glass, making them a persistent risk factor.
  • Sunburn (UVB exposure)
  • Previous skin cancers
  • Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)
  • Exposure to chemicals
  • Long-term presence of scars.
  • Long term skin ulcers
  • Presence of particular strains of the wart virus (human papillomavirus)
  • Previous skin cancer
  • Genetic conditions
  • Albinism

Treatments

  • Sunbeds
  • Previous radiotherapy treatment
  • Exposure to radiation i.e. X-ray treatment

Syndromes

Medication

  • Long term use of Hydrochlorothiazide

Symptoms

  • Look at pictures, does it resemble to one‘s rash/moles?

Melanoma-Moles: 

  • Asymmetrical (two halves may differ in shape in the same area)?
  • Borders irregular or blurred sometimes show notches?
  • Uneven or different shades or black/pink/brown?
  • At least 6mm in diameter?
  • Change in shape, size, diameter and colour?
  • Have any mole on skin, not heeling or oozing with pus?
  • Feel a change in sensation?
  • Mole very hot red, red or swollen?

Basal Cell skin cancer:

  • “Pearly” in appearance?
  • Skin-coloured or pink bumps?
  • Tiny blood vessels (telangiectasias) seen on surface of bumps?
  • Shallow depression in its centre?
  • Bleeding when rubbed?
  • Skin appear shiny?

Keratoacanthoma/Squamous cell carcinoma cancer:

  • Grows rapidly over the course of 2–6 weeks Starting as a small, pimple-like lesion, a keratoacanthoma typically develops into a dome-shaped, skin-coloured nodule with a central depression?
  • Usually range in size from 1–2.5 cm?
  • Painless and itchy?
  • May interfere with normal function of the affected area?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

General tips

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Do not wait, see your Medical Doctor if ever in doubt

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Skin Cancer in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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  • NHS

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  • WebMD

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Nathnac

    Travel health guidance for health professionals advising travellers and for travellers going overseas from the UK.

  • DR Axe

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  • Better health - NHS

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