The abnormal development of skin cells is known as skin cancer. It is caused by mutations produced by unrepaired DNA damage. Skin cells with these abnormalities develop fast, resulting in malignant tumors. Seeing a dermatologist at the best cancer hospital in India can help you provide the best diagnosis and treatment. The three most frequent forms of skin cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma,
- Basal cell carcinoma, and
- Melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
The most commonly squamous cell carcinoma sites are sun-exposed skin, such as the scalp, backs of hands, ears, and lips. Although aggressive, this kind of cancer is usually not life-threatening. However, if left untreated, it can become large and spread to other parts of the body. Hence, posing significant health risks.
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
This form of cancer starts in the basal cells, which create new skin cells when the old ones die. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunshine is assumed to be the cause of this. Therefore, BCC can be prevented by avoiding the sun and using sunscreen.
- Melanoma
Melanoma is the rarest of the three skin cancers, but it is also the deadliest. This cancer can develop in different parts of the body, including places like the soles and the palms that don't get much sun. However, if diagnosed early, this can be successfully treated.
What does skin cancer look like?
Skin cancer can occur in a variety of ways in the body. It can take the form of:
- Changing mole or a mole that isn't the same as the others
- Dome-type formation
- Patch of scaly skin
- A sore that fails to heal or that heals but returns
- Underneath a nail, there is a brown or black stripe.
Notice a suspicious spot, consult a dermatologist
For the finest cancer treatment in India, the best cancer hospitals in India provide a complete planning system that includes a panel of experienced medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists.
If something unusual on your skin catches your eye, consult a dermatologist at the best cancer hospital in India.
It's better to prevent than to treat!
Although there is no way to avoid skin cancer, there are several things you may do to reduce your risk. Limit sun exposure by taking the following precautions:
- Minimize UV radiation exposure
- Wear sun-protective clothing and eyewear.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
- Avoid deliberate skin tanning
- Every month, check your skin from head to toe.
Options to treatment
The following are the most prevalent skin cancer treatments:
- Freezing: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and eliminate malignant cells in this process, also known as cryotherapy.
- Wide Excision: This entails the excision of the tumor and some healthy skin and soft tissue around it, known as a margin. The type and size of skin cancer will determine how much tissue has to be removed.
When a huge tumor is removed, the incision may be too large to close, so doctors may close the wound with skin from another region of the body. This procedure is referred to as a skin graft.
- Mohs surgery: This procedure is used to treat larger, recurring, or difficult-to-cure skin cancers, such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It's typically used in areas like the nose when keeping as much skin as possible is vital.
- Curettage and Electrodesiccation: A curette, a sharp, spoon-shaped device, is used to remove the skin lesion during this routine treatment. After that, the region is treated with an electric current, which helps to reduce bleeding while also killing any leftover cancer cells. This is termed Electrodesiccation. After healing from this operation, many patients have a flat scar.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a cancer-killing treatment that uses chemicals. Creams or lotions containing anti-cancer medicines can be administered directly to the skin for malignancies confined to the top layer of the skin.
However, if the skin malignancies have spread to other areas as well, then systemic chemotherapy is advisable.
- Radiation therapy: It kills cancer cells by using high-powered radiation beams like X-rays. Radiation therapy may be an alternative when cancer is not entirely eliminated during surgery. A TrueBeam Linear Accelerator with Exactrac was recently installed in one of India's best cancer hospitals, allowing it to provide exact radiation with the greatest conformity.
Conclusion
At the best cancer hospital in India, an oncologist may suggest surgery, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy, and, if necessary, plastic surgery to restore function and look. Evidence-based supportive care therapies may be included in your treatment plan to help manage skin cancer-related side effects such as sun sensitivity, skin dryness, itching, redness, fatigue, inflammation, or nausea. To reduce skin cancers, people should make informed choices regarding sun protection.
David researched and wrote this article as part of the Medical Scholars Program through the Osborne Head and Neck Foundation.
Dr. Zandifar is the director of the Skin Center at the Osborne Head and Neck Institute based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers.
https://www.ohniww.org/category/skin-cancer/
Skin cancer is a disease that consists of an uncontrolled growth of skin cells.
The condition is typically caused by mutations in skin cell DNA due to repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun.
Squamous cells are the uppermost cells of the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin) that are constantly shed as new cells form.
Any part of the body is prone to SCC, but the most common head and neck locations include the face, rim of the ear, neck, lower lip, and scalp.
