Abstract
One of the most common types of cancers in the world is skin cancer. The epidemiology of skin cancer postulates that the worldwide incidences of melanoma and nonmelanocytic skin cancers are 92,000 and 2, 750,000 annually. The incidences of skin cancer vary depending on race. A large percentage of skin cancer especially melanomas are due to sunlight exposure and are much higher in the white population. In the United States, the most common type of cancer is the skin cancer. The types of skin cancer with the highest prevalence include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell cancer ( Johansen & Feuerherm, 2015). The areas affected by these cancers include the neck, face, hands, and face among others. Melanoma is another type of skin cancer among the US population but is relatively lesser common.
Introduction
Skin cancer develops as a result of an abnormal and uncoordinated growth of malignant cells in the skin layers. Factors that predispose an individual to skin factors include exposure to sunlight rays and having a light-colored skin, eyes, and hair. Other factors include having a family history of skin cancer and people in the age bracket of above 50 years. The etiology of skin cancer involves a process whereby damage occurs to the cells of the skin due to triggers such as sunlight rays resulting in genetic defects and mutations that lead to overproliferation of the skin cells leading to malignant tumors. There are various types of skin cancer, their causes, pathophysiology, treatment and prevention mechanisms that can be applied.
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Types of Skin Cancers
Several types of skin cancers exist including actinic keratosis, atypical moles, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, Markel cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Leiter et al. (2014) asserted that cancers are classified based on the type of cell they affect the skin. The skin is made up of basal cells, melanocytes, and squamous cells. The most common types of skin cancer include squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. Most skin cancers begin with an unusual spot on the skin’s surface. It may also present itself as an existing spot that has markedly changed in shape, size, and color. Examples of warning signs for skin cancer include freckles, blemishes, spots, and moles. Some may begin as harmless but soon develop into potentially fatal types of skin cancer.
History of Skin Cancer
The first ever descriptions of cancer to be documented were done by Egyptian papyri at around 2500BC. Hippocrates also made a significant contribution to the detection of skin cancers by describing ulcer forming and nonnuclear tumors which had finger-like projections resembling a crab. The tumors were named carcinos to represent the word crab in Greek. The term oncology was also used to describe tumors which were used by Galen. Scientific oncology improved in the 19 th century as the introduction of modern medical technology such as microscope improved the detection, recognition, and diagnosis of skin cancer.
Causes of Skin Cancer
The causes of skin cancer are numerous including exposure to artificial ultraviolet rays. The perpetual exposure to tanning beds also plays a part in exposing individuals to skin cancer especially women who are under the age of 45 years. Gordon (2013) pointed out that natural factors such as the skin color can be a potential factor for exposure. They include skin that burns easily or people who are light skinned. Patients who have survived from a melanoma have a potential of developing the disease in the future. Genetic predisposition is another factor that enhances the development of cancers, skin cancer being one of them. Individuals with a history of skin cancer in their family members are likely to acquire the infection as opposed to those without a history.
Process of Skin Cancer
The etiology of the skin cancer begins with the exposure to a risk factor such as the carcinogenic ultraviolet rays. These factors are responsible for activating the oncogenes which activate the overproliferation of skin cells resulting into malignancy. Once the skin cancer develops, it follows several stages in its life cycle. The first stage of the infection is when the cancerous cells are still confined in the epidermis and have not yet spread to other parts of the skin. The medical intervention undertaken in this stage is usually surgery. The next stage of cancer that follows is when the cancerous cells have grown deeper into the skin without reaching the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. The stage following involves a situation where the cells have moved into deeper areas of the skin hence beginning to present high-risk features but have not yet spread to the lymph nodes. The next stage in the development of cancer sees the spread of cancerous cells to the lymph nodes but not necessarily to other distant organs. The final stage, also referred to as stage 5 is where the cancer cells have moved to other regions of the body through the lymph nodes hence affecting distant organs such as liver, brain, and lungs among others.
Coulter (2014) asserted that basal cell carcinomas, one of the commonest types of skin cancer tend to recur on patients who had initially recovered from it. It is a skin cancer that grows slowly, and it rarely metastasizes to nearby lymph nodes or other organs of the body. Therefore patients diagnosed with this type of cancer must remain vigilant to observe signs of recurrence. Recurrent infection can be increased by factors such as a history of body eczema, exposure to UV light for a lengthy period, and presence of carcinoma in several layers deep in the skin among others. Therefore follow-up treatments and self-examinations are critical in diagnosis and treatment of the ailment completely.
Treatments
According to Heckman et al . (2013), the main treatment intervention, especially for non-melanoma skin cancer, is surgery. It is a process that involves the removal of a cancerous tumor surrounding the tissue. Other medical interventions include radiotherapy, cryotherapy, the use of anticancer creams, and photodynamic treatment that uses light. The mode of treatment employed normally is dependent on the size, type, and location of the skin cancers on the skin. It is easier to treat basal cell carcinoma because it does not metastasize to other regions of the body. However, follow up must be done to ensure that incidences of reoccurrence are mitigated. Chemotherapy can also be utilized depending on the severity of the tumors. The treatment options depend on the type of cancer, size of the tumor, general health of the patient, and the stage of cancer.
Prevention
Kornek and Augustin (2013) asserted that the primary risk factor for skin cancer is the UV light from the sun and other radiants. Therefore, in prevention from this risk factor, it is imperative for individuals to wear protective clothing, using sunscreen, and to seek shade in case of too much sunlight. Also, people should avoid the use of sunlamps and tanning beds which are sources of UV radiation. People should remain vigilant on the moles and lesions found on their skin and should take proactive measures that involve visiting a dermatologist in case significant changes are noticed. Skin examination practices are also important in detecting and preventing the onset of this type of cancer. Individuals having a history of melanoma should have a continuous medical examination to prevent chances of reoccurrence.
Conclusion
Skin cancer remains one of the commonest types of cancers in the world. There are several types of skin cancer, but the commonest include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment of the infection involves the use of chemotherapy, surgery, and specific medications. Measurements that can be taken to prevent the onset of cancer include avoiding UV rays and being proactive and vigilant on the changes that occur on the skin.
References
Coulter, S. (2014). Basal Cell Carcinoma. Pathology .
Gordon, R. (2013, (August). Skin cancer: an overview of epidemiology and risk factors. In Seminars in oncology nursing (Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 160-169). WB Saunders.
Heckman, C. J., Darlow, S., Munshi, T., & Perlis, C. (2013). Skin Cancer Screening. In Highlights in skin cancer . InTech.
Johansen, B., & Feuerherm, A. J. (2015). U.S. Patent Application No. 15/360,084 .
Kornek, T., & Augustin, M. (2013). Skin cancer prevention. JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft , 11 (4), 283-298.
Leiter, U., Eigentler, T., & Garbe, C. (2014). Epidemiology of skin cancer. In Sunlight, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer (pp. 120-140). Springer New York.
