WHAT CAUSES SKIN CANCER? Ruth Sarabia Period 02

What is Skin Cancer?

It’s a disease where skin cells lose the ability to divide and grow normally while healthy skin cells normally divide in an orderly way to replace dead cells and grow new skin.

Heres a picture of one of the types of skin

Cancer.

Types of Skin Cancers…

There’s 3 different types of skin cancers… The Basal Cell Carinoma is the most common type, which

is a disease where the cancer cells are similar to the basal cells of the outer layer of the skin.

The Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that starts in the squamous cells, which are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

The Melanoma cancer is a cancer that develops in the pigment cells present in the skin. It can be more serious than the other forms of skin cancer because it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious illness and death

What can cause these cancers? Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the

sun is one of the most main causes of skin cancer.

Skin cancer could also come from your genetics. Radiation treatment Tanning beds Sun lamps

This is a picture of a woman who was exposed to UV radiation

which is not good..

Who’s Affected?

People who have… Fair skin Spend a lot of time outdoors in work or doing

activities A history of sunburn A family history of skin cancer Many moles Are over age 40 A large dark-colored birthmark HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

Can you die from Skin Cancer depending on your race/ethnicity or sex? Approximately 39,000 new cases of this cancer occur

in men each year in the U.S. and 29,000 in women. Approximately 5,700 deaths from this cancer occur in

men each year in the U.S. and 3,000 in women. Studies found that men over 40 have the highest

exposure to the sun's harmful rays according to the Skin Cancer Foundation

The race most affected by this cancer is It’s very uncommon in African Americans, Latinos, and

Asians but it is frequently fatal for these populations. 48 percent of this cancer in African Americans are

diagnosed at an early stage, compared to 74 percent in Hispanics and 84 percent in Caucasians.

The overall survival rate for African Americans is only 77 percent, versus 91 percent for Caucasians.

Symptoms…Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms : usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of your body, like your face, ears or scalp. It

usually appears as a pearly or waxy bump or a flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion.

Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms : Often occurs on sun-exposed areas of your body, like your face, lips, ears and

hands. It looks like a firm, red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface

Melanoma signs and symptoms : It can develop anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing

mole that becomes cancerous. In women this cancer most often develops on the lower legs. In men and women melanoma can occur on skin that hasn't been exposed to the sun. Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones melanoma occurs on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails. Melanoma often looks like a large brownish spot with darker speckles, a mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds,a small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, white, blue or blue-black, Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus

Standards

Unit 1: Cell Biology 

Unit Summary This unit will focus on the structure and functions of cells. This includes

distinguishing between cellular organisms and viruses, as well as between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It also includes understanding the function of the plasma membrane and the processes of diffusion, osmosis, and active transport. Additionally, this unit will address the functions of various cell organelles, including the chloroplast’s role in photosynthesis and the mitochondria’s role in cellular respiration.

Unit 10: Immune System 

Unit Summary This unit focuses on the human immune system. It addresses both the specific and

nonspecific immune responses, the role of antibodies in immunity, the differences between viral and bacterial infections, compromised immunity, and the role of vaccinations in protecting against infections.

How does this topic relate to these standards? This topic relates to unit 1 cell biology,

because when skin cancer occurs it deals with cells and how they get mutated and make things happen to your skin.

This topic also relates to unit 10 immune system, because your immune system is what protects you from getting sicknesses and viruses and when you get skin cancer it turns into a form of disease that your immune system cant fight away.

Spreadsheet

Information - http://ehealthmd.com/content/what-skin-cancer , http://www.livescience.com/7546-5-skin-cancer.html , http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/skin-cancer-000029.htm , http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts/ ,

Pictures - http://molesonface.com/skin-cancers.php , http://www.spray-tan-byron-bay.com/images/sundamagedskin.jpg , http://biologyofskincancer.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/basal_cell_carcinoma_skin_cancer_pictures.jpg , http://www.skincareguide.com/images/glossary/squamous_cell_carcinoma.jpg , http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPdyBfuTGsE/TlMW5SqO6YI/AAAAAAAAAg4/FtG_ikYuvAg/s400/Signs+and+Symptoms+of+Skin+Cancer+and+Its+Treatment+cell.jpg