Skin Cancer:Prevention and Early Detection

James M. EddyTexas A&M University

Skin Cancer:Facts and Figures

• Most common type of cancer in the US• 1 million new cases diagnosed annually• 1 out of 3 cancers diagnosed is skin cancer• 40 to 50% of people who live to age 65 will have skin

cancer at least once• Melanoma is the most common cancer for 25-29

year olds• Since 1981 the incidence of melanoma has increased

7.1% annually• Almost 100% curable if found early and treated

properly

Your Skin• The skin protects us against heat, light, injury, and

infection• Regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and

vitamin D• Skin is the body’s largest organ• The epidermis (outer layer of the skin) is mostly made

up of flat, scale-like cells called squamous cells; and under these lie round cells called basal cells.

• The deepest part of the of the epidermis also contains melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin (which gives the skin its color).

Your Skin

What is Cancer?• Cancer is a disease of some of the body's

cells.• Healthy cells that make up the body's

tissues grow, divide, and replace themselves in an orderly way.

• Cancer is the result of normal cells losing the ability to limit and direct their growth. They divide too rapidly and grow without any order. Too much tissue is produced, and tumors begin to form.

Types of Tumors• Benign tumors are not cancer. They do

not spread to other parts of the body and are seldom a threat to life. Often, benign tumors can be removed by surgery, and they are not likely to return.

• Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and destroy nearby healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body and form new tumors.

Types of Skin Cancer• Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells that

cover or line an organ.• Basal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90% of

all skin cancers in the U.S.• It is a slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads to

other parts of the body.• Squamous cell carcinoma rarely spreads, but does so

more than basal cell carcinoma• Both types are mainly found on areas of the skin that

are exposed (head, face, neck, hands, and arms).

Types of Skin Cancer• Malignant melanoma is heavily

concentrated in moles• Majority are black or brown, but may be

skin colored, pink, red, or purple• Most frequent locations are on the trunk,

legs, arms, and on the scalp of men.

Symptoms Most common warning sign is a

change on the skin, especially a new growth or a sore that doesn’t

heal

Characteristic Feature

Ordinary Moles

Have ALL of these

features

Atypical Moles

Have one or more of these

features

SHAPE Round or Oval Irregular

BORDER W/ SKIN

Sharp. EvenUneven

and/or fuzzy

COLORUniform brown

Two or more shades of brown or

pink

DIAMETERLess than 1

inch¼ inch or

more

SURFACE TEXTURE

Smooth or Cauliflower

Pebbled or bumpy

IF MOLE IS RAISED

Even dome shape

Flat edges with fried egg center

ABCDs of Melanoma Detection• A – Asymmetry: one half

unlike the other half. ABCDs of Melanoma Detection

• B – Border irregular: scalloped or poorly circumscribed border.

• C – Color: varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown; black; sometimes white, red or blue.

• D – Diameter: larger than 6mm as a rule (diameter of a pencil eraser).

Cause and Risk• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is

the main cause of skin cancer.• UV is an invisible form of light that can

penetrate and change the structure of the skin cells.

• Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can cause skin cancer.

Increased Risk• Regardless of race, the risk of developing skin cancer is

elevated if you have ANY of the following risk factors:• 50 or more ordinary moles• Any atypical moles, even one• History of any blistering sunburns, especially under

age 20• Sun-sensitive skin which burns or freckles easily• Personal or family history of any type of skin cancer• Sporadic exposure of normally covered skin to strong

sunlight• Use of tanning salons

Skin Type

Tanning and Sunburn History

IHighest

Risk

Always burnsNever tansSensitive to sun exposure

IIBurns easilyTans minimally

IIIBurns moderatelyTans gradually to light brown

IVBurns minimallyAlways tans to moderate brown

VRarely burnsTans profusely to dark

VILowest

Risk

Never burnsDeeply pigmentedLeast sensitive

Skin Types

Protection• Whenever possible, people should avoid

exposure to the midday sun.• Beware of reflective surfaces (eg. sand, water,

concrete) which reflect more than half of the sun’s rays onto your skin.

• Sunglasses protect the eyes from UV rays, reduce the risk of cataracts, and protect the skin around the eyes.

Protection• Apply sunscreen a MINIMUM of 30 minutes prior

to sun exposure• Use an SPF of 15 or higher• Reapply every 2 hours (don’t forget the lips)• Don’t forget to use on cloudy days

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants when in the sun

• Tighter the weave = higher the SPF• When wet garments lose 1/3 of their sun-

protective ability• You can purchase laundry additives that

increase the SPF of your clothing

Guidelines for Outdoor Workers

• If possible move the outside job inside or to a shady location.

• Try to perform jobs that do not offer shade before 10am or after 3pm.

• Locate a shady spot for lunch breaks.• Wear protective clothing that covers your skin.

• Long sleeved, closely woven, long pants• Avoid clothes that you can see through.• Bring along an extra shirt in case yours becomes

wet.• A collar will protect the back of the neck.

Guidelines for Outdoor Workers

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.• Wear at least a 3 inch wide brim that encircles

the hat• Use a hat with a flap in the back if your job

requires a lot of bending.• Hard hats can have a flap or extra brim fitted to

them• Wear sunglasses that filter out UV rays

• Apply sunscreen liberally to your entire body• Reapply at morning break, lunch, and afternoon

break• You especially need sunscreen if your shadow is

shorter than you are tall.

How to Do a Skin Self-Exam

What you’ll need: Bright light, full-length mirror, hand mirror, two

chairs, a blow dryerExamine the head and face, using one or both

mirrors. Use blow dryer to inspect scalp.

Check hands, including nails. In full length mirror, examine elbows, arms, and underarms.

Focus on neck, chest, torso. Women: check under breasts.

How to Do a Skin Self-Exam

What you’ll need: Bright light, full-length mirror, hand mirror, two

chairs, a blow dryerWith back to the mirror, use hand mirror to

inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs.

Sitting down, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals.

Questions to Ask the Doctor• Your doctor is the best person to ask any important

questions you have about cancer.• Some questions include:

• What types of treatment are available?• Are there any risks or side effects of treatment?• Will there be a scar?• Will I have to change my normal activities?• How can I protect myself from getting skin cancer

again?• How often will I need a checkup?

For More Info on Skin Cancer

• Contact GHM$ at 800-723-6134 or http://www.healthes.com/ghms

• American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 or http://www.cancer.org

• American Academy of Dermatology – http://www.aad.org

• Cancer Information Service – 800-4-CANCER

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov

• National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/