Skin cancer signs of treatment. Skin cancer: initial stage, forms, symptoms and treatment

Skin cancer is one of the types of oncology that affects the external integument of a person with a malignant tumor. According to various sources, from total oncological diseases, this type of cancer occupies from 5 to 10% of all cases of diagnosing the disease.

According to the statistics for a malignant tumor skin accounts for about 10% of all cancer cases. Today, dermatology notes an upward trend in the disease with an average annual increase of 4.5%. In the structure of skin cancer, the squamous cell form of skin cancer accounts for about 10-25%, and 60-75% for basalioma of the skin.

Skin dermatoscopy

Attention! The Cancer Society recommends that people over 40 have at least once a year medical examination at the oncologist. This procedure will detect cancer in early stage and produce in a timely manner.

What causes skin cancer?

There are people who are at risk for this:

• white-skinned population with blond hair and eyes, as well as albino people. Dark-skinned inhabitants of the planet are twenty times less likely to encounter this type of disease. This is due to a greater degree of protection of the skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays;
• frequent visitors to the solarium and beaches are more susceptible to pathology than others, since they are most exposed to radiation. In case there are three sunburn, the risk of development is doubled;
• people who often have to deal with chemicals in their field of activity, they can lead to mutations in DNA molecules;
• exposure to radioactive radiation. Work at nuclear power plants or with medical equipment, which has harmful radiation;
• also residents of cities close to the sites of accidents at nuclear power plants;
• people who have a significant amount of postoperative scars or large age spots on their bodies, moles are more likely to suffer from this disease;
• age after fifty.

Exist skin diseases, they are classified as precancerous conditions, the absence of treatment of which can lead to skin cancer:

• erythroplasia of Queyra;
• Bowen's disease;
• pigment xeroderma;
• leukoplakia;
• senile keratoma;
• skin horn;
• melanosis Dubreuil;
• melanoma-dangerous pigmented nevi (complex pigmented nevus, blue nevus, giant nevus, nevus of Ota);
• chronic skin lesions: trophic ulcers, tuberculosis, syphilis, SLE, etc.

How to recognize skin cancer?

There are three types of skin cancer:

1. - develops from flat cells of the surface layer of the epidermis;
2. - occurs under a layer of flat cells during atypical degeneration of the basal cells of the epidermis;
3. - arises from its pigment cells - melanocytes.

There is another type - it is adenocarcinoma of the skin (glandular skin cancer), which arises from the sweat glands. A fairly rare type of skin cancer.

There are a number of rules, adhering to which, the disease can be identified independently. To do this, you need to know the signs of skin cancer on early dates diseases.

What should be of concern?

• If you notice that the nevus has become asymmetrical, for example, one half is different from the second;
• the edges of the nevus became uneven, swelling or recesses appeared;
• there was a change in color, the mole acquired a bluish tint, became much darker or its pigmentation is not uniform;
• if the mole began to grow rapidly or its size is more than six millimeters;
• when there is a scar on the skin and it long time does not heal or fluid begins to ooze from it;
• causeless appearance on the skin of a spot or bump in the form of a nodule with a glossy surface with an unusual pigment (red, pink, black).

TNM classification is necessary for a more accurate assessment of the prevalence of skin cancer

T - primary tumor:

• TX - it is impossible to assess the tumor due to lack of data;
• TO - the tumor is not determined;
• Tis - cancer in place;
• TI - tumor size up to 2 cm;
• T2 - the size of a cancerous tumor up to 5 cm;
• TK - the size of the formation is more than 5 cm;
• T4 - skin cancer grows into the underlying deep tissues: muscles, cartilage or bones.

N - state lymph nodes:

• NX - it is impossible to assess the state of regional lymph nodes due to lack of data;
• N0 - there are no signs of metastases in the lymph nodes;
• N1 - there is a metastatic lesion of regional lymph nodes.

M - the presence of metastasis

• MX - lack of data regarding the presence of distant metastases;
• MO - distant metastases not detected;
• M1 - Distant metastasis is present.

Assessment of the degree of differentiation tumor cells produced within the histopathological classification of skin cancer.

1. GX - there is no way to determine the degree of differentiation;
2. G1 - high differentiation of tumor cells;
3. G2 - average differentiation of tumor cells;
4. G3 - low differentiation of tumor cells;
5. G4 - undifferentiated skin cancer.

Skin cancer - the first symptoms of the disease:

1. pain syndromes in the area of ​​the affected area of ​​the skin with the spread of the tumor, the pain intensifies;
2. open sores and wounds on the body that do not heal for a long time, the appearance of ulcers on a mole;
3. hair loss from the surface of the nevus;
4. discoloration (darkening, lightening, uneven coloring);
5. bleeding;
6. active growth, doubling in half a year;
7. the size of the mole is more than 7 mm., while asymmetric uneven edges and fuzzy borders are observed;
8. appearance of nodes.

In the later stages of the disease, skin cancer has symptoms such as:

• weight loss;
• loss of appetite;
• weakness;
• fast fatiguability;
• apathy;
• general malaise;
• nausea;
• vomit;
• increase in body temperature, etc.

With complete metastasis, there may be a deterioration in vision, hearing, headaches. Without proper treatment, death is quite possible.

Diagnosis of skin cancer

To diagnose skin cancer, a number of studies are required:

Attention! If you notice any strange formation in the form of a spot, ulcer, knot, or an existing mole has changed color or has begun to grow in size, you should immediately seek advice from a dermatologist.

• Independent research. At least once every six months, it is required to independently conduct a skin examination.
• Doctor's examination. At the appointment, the dermatologist will carefully examine the suspicious formation with a magnifying glass or microscope. If it raises suspicion, the doctor will order tests for skin cancer.
• Dermoscopy is a visual examination of skin formations without the use of surgical intervention, which makes it possible to significantly clarify the diagnosis of the early stages of a malignant skin tumor.
• Biochemical research. Blood test for skin cancer shows elevated level lactate dehydrogenase, but it is detected in the later stages of the disease, when there are already metastases. But, high level This enzyme does not always indicate the presence of cancer, it may indicate other diseases.
• Biopsy. This method is considered the main one for detecting oncology, the procedure is carried out in several ways, having previously anesthetized the puncture site.

A biopsy can be taken with:

1. scalpel, cutting off a segment of the neoplasm;
2. blade, completely cutting off the existing build-up;
3. with a special needle, separating a piece of tissue from the affected area;
4. completely removing the focus of inflammation along with the surrounding tissues.

After the procedure, the obtained material is sent for cytological and histological examination.

• Cytological analysis. This study examines the structure and shape of cells, which makes it possible to determine whether the tumor is malignant or benign. Also, this examination of skin cancer determines its type, which allows you to prescribe the right treatment, knowing which type of therapy the neoplasm is more sensitive to. The result of the examination, as a rule, comes 5-6 days after taking a biopsy.
• Indicates malignancy the following factors. Cells look atypical, namely their nuclei bigger size and darker in color, they do not fulfill their function and have signs of active division.
• Histological analysis. The tissue obtained during the biopsy is combined with paraffin, which makes it harder, after which it is cut into thin sections, placed under a microscope, and stained with a special preparation. This procedure allows you to judge the malignancy of the tumor, determine how aggressive its course is and help you choose the right therapy.
  Confirms the suspicion of the presence of a malignant tumor, the accumulation of atypical cells, their large nuclei and their surroundings with cytoplasm.
• radioisotropic study. Positron emission tomography is a new kind of hardware examination, which determines the accumulation of cancer cells, allows you to detect the presence of microtumors and distant single metastases. The procedure is considered expensive, and the necessary equipment does not exist in every clinic.

If all the examinations and analyzes performed for skin cancer confirmed the diagnosis, additional methods may be prescribed in the later stages (3-4):

Additional research and laboratory tests

Additional studies are necessary after making an accurate diagnosis and before prescribing treatment, as well as after undergoing a course of radiation or chemotherapy, surgery:

• Ultrasound of the lymph nodes and abdominal cavity(places of frequent diagnosis of metastases);
• CT, MRI;
• chest x-ray;
• biochemical coagulogram;
• general blood and urine analysis;
• biochemistry of blood serum;
• analysis for the absence of diabetes mellitus;
• blood test for Rh factor and group;
• Wasserman reaction, as well as the determination of antibodies to HIV

Skin cancer and its treatment

The choice of method of therapy depends on many factors:

1. tumor localization;
2. types of skin cancer;
3. histological and cytological structure (its type).

The main type of treatment is considered surgical (surgical intervention).

Indications for surgery are:

• deep tissue damage;
• neoplasm of large size;
• relapse of the disease;
• scar tumor.

In order to prevent re-growth of the formation, radiation therapy is often used together with surgery, the purpose of which is to completely destroy, possibly remaining microscopic cancer cells.

Surgery has many advantages over other methods:

• allows you to remove all atypical cells in one procedure;
• even large skin cancer can be excised;
• the ability to control the remaining tissues;
• low recurrence threshold.

, as mentioned earlier, it works better with surgical treatment.

How independent method assigned if:

• due to health reasons, it is impossible for the patient to enter anesthesia for the operation;
• the size of the tumor is too large, the late stage of the disease requiring palliative treatment;
• hard-to-reach place of education;
• relapse treatment;
• for cosmetic purposes.

Chemotherapy as an independent method is not highly effective in skin cancer; in combination with radiation therapy and surgery, it gives better results. has many contraindications, and the course of therapy is long.

Most often used if:

• the patient is categorically set for the operation;
• in the treatment of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma;
• first stage tumor possible treatment ointments based on chemistry;
• the presence of metastases.

Additional, sparing methods in the early stages of the disease are:

• laser destruction;
• cryotherapy;
• medical treatment.

Prevention of skin cancer

Prevention of skin cancer is to protect the skin from the effects of adverse chemical, radiation, ultraviolet, traumatic, thermal and other influences. Avoid direct sunlight, especially around the afternoon solstice. Use sunscreens and ointments that protect the skin from direct sunlight. For those people who work for hazardous industries must adhere to the safety regulations harmful substances and use protective equipment.

It is also necessary to pass medical examinations and visit a dermatologist more often. In the presence of precancerous diseases, it is worth immediately starting to treat them. Prevention of the transformation of melanoma-dangerous nevi into skin cancer consists in right choice medical tactics and how to remove them.

Skin cancer prognosis

Mortality in skin cancer is the lowest in comparison with other oncological diseases. The prognosis depends on the type of skin cancer and the degree of differentiation of cancer cells. A more benign course of metastasis is basalioma of the skin. With timely and proper treatment the five-year survival rate is 95%. As for melanoma of the skin, its prognosis, alas, is disappointing. The five-year survival rate is only 50%.

Skin cancer is one of the easiest to detect at an early stage, due to the visualization of the focus of inflammation. To produce timely diagnosis And adequate treatment, you should just be attentive to your body and not postpone visiting a doctor if suspicious neoplasms are detected.

Informative video: skin cancer prevention and diagnosis

Malignant tumors are most often localized on the face, scalp, neck. Doctors explain this circumstance by increased ultraviolet exposure to parts of the body that are not covered by clothing.

First signs and symptoms

The most common types of skin cancer on the face are basal cell and squamous cell tumors. Let us consider in detail the symptoms of these oncological diseases on the face in their initial stages.

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Basal cell carcinoma

This type of cancer is the most common.

A characteristic feature of basal cell carcinoma is its slow course: tumors can develop over several years.

Another sign of tumors of this type is almost complete absence metastasis. However, when the tumor is localized on the face, metastases are still fixed, but, fortunately, infrequently.

Basalioma on the face develops in several forms:

• superficial;
• nodular;
• flat.

The surface form is a pinkish spot with slightly raised edges and a smooth, shiny surface. It rarely develops on the face. The nodular form looks like a reddish tumor with a nodular formation in the center. This form of the disease has the most rapid course.

Flat basalioma looks like a plaque with clear edges, slightly raised above the skin surface.

Most often, nodular basalioma occurs on the face. At the initial stage, the neoplasm looks like a nodule, spot or pimple. The size at the initial stage is from 0.5 to 2 cm. The tumor is characterized by superficial growth and does not cause any pain symptoms. The only manifestation may be itching, sometimes quite severe.

If you find any neoplasm on your face that does not heal for a week or more, you should contact a dermatologist who will examine the tumor with a dermatoscope and prescribe a further examination or send it to an oncologist.
It is quite possible that this is an allergy, dermatitis or other skin disease, but you need to see a doctor in any case: early diagnosis oncological tumors significantly increases the likelihood of a complete cure.

Video: Five main signs of skin cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma

This form of malignant neoplasms is much more aggressive than basalioma. Squamous cell carcinoma can develop on the face as a plaque, ulcer, or nodule. The ulcerative variety is characterized by roll-like raised edges surrounding the tumor along the entire circumference.

Ulcerative squamous cell tumor resembles a crater. The central focus of the neoplasm often bleeds, sometimes it is felt bad smell. The tumor progresses rapidly, increasing in horizontal and vertical directions.
The nodular form of squamous cell carcinoma resembles appearance cauliflower. The tumor has a solid base and is often covered with erosions and ulcerations. The color may be red or brown.

Squamous cell tumors in the form of a plaque are characterized by a bright red color, bleeding and the presence of small tubercles on the surface of the formation.

At the initial stage, the tumor spreads horizontally, but rather quickly proceeds to spread into the deeper layers of the skin.

Treatment

At stage 1, facial skin cancer is cured quite successfully: with adequate and competent therapy, 90-97% can be achieved full recovery without recurrence.

Surgical excision of the tumor is used with the necessary indentation from the edges. Since operations are performed on the face, excision follows the principles plastic surgery. If necessary, repeated plastic surgery is performed.

In hard-to-reach places for traditional surgical intervention, when tumors are localized on the nose or around the eyes, laser coagulation of tumors is used. This allows for minimal intervention and does not cause bleeding. But such an operation is possible only with small tumors.

Neoplasms in the nose and eyes can also be eliminated through photodynamic therapy (PDT), since other methods of treatment can adversely affect the condition of the lens.

The principle of photodynamic therapy is as follows: the patient is injected with a photosensitizer (a special light-sensitive substance), which accumulates in the tumor tissues. A few days later, the neoplasm is irradiated with light of a certain length.

Photosensitizing substances under the influence of light are destroyed together with the cells of a malignant tumor, while healthy tissues remain untouched. This method therapy has virtually no contraindications and side effects(if necessary, it can be carried out several times).

17.03.2016

Probably the most amazing part of our body is our skin. First, it is the most big organ(its surface is 1.5-2 sq.m), secondly, the skin is located "everywhere", thirdly, it has a very complex structure with huge amount blood vessels, nerve fibers, sweat ducts and sebaceous glands Finally, fourthly, it performs many different functions at the same time.

The first thing that comes to mind when people talk about skin is its barrier function. Human skin protects everything internal organs and tissues from exposure to all adverse external factors, including not only natural, but also generated by civilization, such as various toxins and radiation.

It is not surprising that skin cancer today is very common throughout the world, especially in European countries, disease. In a number of oncological diseases, skin cancer occupies the 3rd place. Skin cancer occurs most often on open (face, hands) areas of the skin.

Factors that trigger the development of skin cancer

Skin cancer is most common in European countries, since fair skin, especially freckled skin, is especially prone to the appearance of malignant neoplasms.

Doctors rank among the core factors that can lead to skin cancer:
The presence on the skin of a large number of moles or age spots;
Exposure of the skin to direct sunlight for a long time (it is for this reason that 70% cancerous tumors concentrated on the face and hands, as on the most exposed parts of the body);
Solarium abuse;
Hormonal ( puberty, pregnancy, menopause) or age-related changes;
hereditary predisposition;
Exposure to toxic compounds such as fuels and lubricants, arsenic, tar;
Impact ionizing radiation;
Frequent damage to the skin, as a rule, leads to the formation of scars, which, in turn, provoke the formation of cancer cells. how to recognize skin cancer?

Signs of skin cancer

Very often, people do not seek help from a dermatologist or oncologist simply because they perceive a malignant tumor as an ordinary sore, wart or boil.

Of course, it is really not so easy to recognize cancerous neoplasms at an early stage of the disease, and nevertheless, it is necessary to regularly examine yourself for skin changes, although, of course, a qualified doctor will make the final diagnosis.

It is best to inspect the skin after taking a bath in bright fluorescent lighting. But, since not all skin changes can be seen under artificial light, you need to examine yourself from time to time in natural light.

What should I pay attention to when examining the skin?

The appearance of new moles or pigmented reddish spots, especially if these neoplasms appeared in a short period of time;
The appearance of formations rising above the surface of the skin. If these formations are red or black, the visit to the doctor should not be postponed in any case;
The formation of irritation or inflammation on the skin that does not heal for a long time;
Change in color or size, bleeding in previously former moles, germination of hairs in the body of old moles;
Long, poor healing of small wounds and scratches;
The appearance of a whitish area of ​​the skin, in place of which the skin has lost elasticity;
The emergence and constant growth of a suspicious spot, either without clearly defined boundaries, or, conversely, symmetrical;
The appearance on the skin of a shiny pineal formation or nodule, which has an unusual shade - pink, purple, white, brown or black.

Method "ABCD"

America's leading dermatologists have identified a number of criteria designed to help people identify the manifestations of skin cancer on their own. This technology was called "ABCD" by the first letters key features skin lesions:
A (asymmetry) - asymmetry, i.e. if one half of the neoplasm differs sharply from the other;
B (border) - border - the contours of the spot or swelling are vague, indistinct;
C (color) - color, i.e., a suspicious spot, has an unusual shade that is different from the usual skin color;
D (diameter) - diameter - an increase in the size of a suspicious area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin of more than 6 mm in diameter.

In most cases, all the above symptoms are not only painless, but do not even cause much discomfort, therefore, at the onset of the disease, people rarely turn to an oncologist. Yes, and skin cancer itself always develops in an extremely diverse way - the shape of neoplasms, their color, the rate of pathological processes can be very different from each other in each case. And the clinical picture of each specific case depends on which types of skin cells the primary tumor developed from, the rate of its development, the presence of metastases and their localization, etc.
However, the main symptom of all types of skin cancer without exception at any stage remains the same - the appearance of skin changes, such as erosion, nodules, sores or plaques.

The main types of skin cancer and their signs

Skin cancer is usually divided into two large groups- squamous and basal cell. The first develops from the cells of the outer layer of the skin, the second - the inner.

Superficial skin cancer

A fairly common form of squamous cell skin cancer is superficial. Doctors do not classify this type of tumor as aggressive, since the rate of development of the disease is rather slow, which allows for a timely diagnosis.

Features of the course of superficial skin cancer:

1. The appearance of a small shiny spot or nodule of yellowish or gray color that does not cause any discomfort;
2. The change in the skin begins to itch, a slight tingling sensation is felt;
3. In the center of education there is a weeping, sometimes bleeding sore;
4. At the next stage of the development of the disease, the sore may be delayed, but continues to grow;
5. When probing the formation, a slight compaction is felt, but inflammation is not observed.

Infiltrating skin cancer

It's over dangerous form squamous cell skin cancer, but having much more high speed development than superficial, and prone to metastatic formation, which makes infiltrating cancer much more dangerous. This form of cancer, in turn, is divided into two types with their own manifestations.

1. A dense knot, which, as it develops, is fixed by surrounding tissues, then the tumor spreads to deep tissues. Further, a crater-shaped ulcer is formed with black or gray necrotic masses at the bottom.
2. In the second type of tumor development, a deep ulcer immediately forms with necrotic masses, from which a characteristic unpleasant odor emanates.

papillary skin cancer

Another form of squamous cell carcinoma. This disease has another name fungozny, easier - mushroom. Outwardly, a papillary tumor looks like a mushroom - a weighty growth on a relatively thin stalk. Over time, due to the crusts covering it, the tumor becomes like a cauliflower.

Basal cell skin cancer (basalioma)

Basal cell skin cancer develops much more slowly, metastases appear quite rarely. Outwardly, the tumor looks like a slightly swollen formation on the skin a few millimeters in size with a thin network of capillaries on the surface. This type of skin cancer has several varieties:
Nodular (solid) - a small nodule surrounded by a vascular network;
Ulcerative - small ulcers form, often bleeding;
Pigmented - the surface of the tumor darkens.

Melanoma

Very aggressive form skin cancer. With melanoma, metastases appear very quickly, which spread through the lymphatic and circulatory pathways, causing the development of secondary tumors. Most often, melanoma develops from birthmarks, often subject to irritation, such as friction. Often the tumor develops after injury to the mole. The mole increases in size, darkens, begins to get wet, itch, bleed. Parallel to pathological process in moles, swelling of the peripheral lymph nodes occurs.

Sarcoma

Sarcoma is the most dangerous cancer, as it develops the fastest of all species malignant tumors. The sarcoma looks like a round nodule with whitish bumps, very similar to fish meat.

Very often, this type of tumor is localized in hard-to-reach places, for example, in the auricle. As a result, sarcoma is diagnosed by chance, when it already begins to cause discomfort and is difficult to treat.

In conclusion

A person has one life, but there are many diseases, so it’s worth remembering the main rule: if any neoplasm appears on the skin, and especially discomfort, you must definitely show it to a dermatologist already at the initial stage. A simple procedure to remove a suspicious spot can save a life.

8 out of 10 of all skin cancers are (also called cancerous basal cells). Basaliomas develop on areas exposed to the sun, especially on the head and neck.

Photo of basal cancer. Tumors may appear as raised areas (like this one) and may be pale, pink, or red. They may have one or more abnormal blood vessels.
Basal cell carcinomas can occur anywhere in the body. They may appear as flat, pale or pink areas, like this one. Large basal cell carcinomas may have oozing or crusting areas.
They may have a lower area in the center and blue, brown, or black areas.
Basaliomas tend to grow slowly. Very rarely, this type of cancer spreads to other parts of the body. But if left untreated, the cancer can spread to nearby areas and infiltrate the bones or other tissues under the skin.
Basalt cancer cells can also develop on the scalp, so it's important to check your scalp when you check the rest of your body for new signs or growths. Many doctors recommend doing this once a month.
This type of skin cancer is more common in older people, but younger people can also be at risk. Probably because they now spend more time in the sun when their skin is exposed to the light.
The photo shows basal skin cancer, which has a crust-like area.
Photo of basalioma in the nasolabial fold
In the photo: bleeding basalioma

Screening for skin cancer At the beginning of the article, let's put on a cynic's cassock, but rather a doctor's white coat (it's hard to imagine big cynics, let representatives of this respected profession not be offended by me) and dream up a little. Imagine that on the grave of a person who died untimely, his diagnosis or cause of death would be written: then, at least, on every 9-10 monument it would be written scary word"cancer". Today in our article we will talk about skin cancer. I must say right away that this is not the most common oncological disease, it accounts for something about 5% of all cases of cancer. But this form of cancer, unlike breast cancer or prostate cancer. does not know gender differences and affects equally, both men and women, as a rule, after 50 years.

Causes of Skin Cancer

The causes of skin cancer can be divided into external and internal.

External causes

TO external reasons Causes of skin cancer include:

• UV radiation, including Sun rays. Cancer can provoke even a single, but intense exposure to the celestial body, which is especially true for such a form of cancer as melanoma. Most often, people who are under the scorching sun do not get sick regularly, but from time to time (for example, when an inveterate office worker is selected for beach holiday). IN last years the impact of this particular factor is gradually becoming decisive, because. the scale of destruction of the ozone layer, which blocks UV rays, is increasing. Another unfavorable place in relation to skin cancer is solariums;
• mechanical trauma to the skin at the location of birthmarks (pigmented nevi);
• exposure to fluorescent lighting devices (this factor is still more out of the zone of assumptions).

Internal causes

TO internal reasons(predisposing factors) for the development of skin cancer include:

• race. "True Aryans" are more prone to skin cancer. Representatives of the Negroid race in this sense can sleep peacefully. At risk - blondes and people with fair skin, eyes, hair;
• bad state immune system. Immunodeficiency predisposes to skin cancer (and not only to it). In this regard, pregnancy poses some danger, in which conditions are created for the degeneration of pigmented nevi;
• gender and age. For example, melanoma is most common in women, and mostly in women of "Balzac" age;
• burdened heredity.

Precancerous diseases

Precancerous skin diseases are obligate, i.e. in the end, they are necessarily transformed into cancer, or optional, they are not always transformed into cancer, in this case malignancy occurs depending on the course of the disease and a number of other factors.

Obligatory precancerous skin diseases

Paget's disease is diagnosed in most cases in women over 60 years old, but men are also susceptible to this disease. By the way, they are characterized by a more aggressive manifestation of it. The disease is expressed in the development of a group of atypical cells in the peripapillary zone, less often in other parts of the body that have apocrine sweat glands: skin of the penis in men, vulva in women or perineal area. According to statistics, more than 95% of people with Paget's disease have breast cancer. Paget's disease requires radical approaches to treatment.

Bowen's disease. This disease is an intraepidermal skin cancer that occurs most often on the genitals in uncircumcised men from 40 to 70 years old. Sometimes also found on mucous surfaces in oral cavity. The disease manifests itself in the form of plaques of copper-red color with fuzzy scaly edges, prone to growth along the periphery.

Pigmented xeroderma- an extremely rare genetic disease caused by an autosomal gene, manifested in excessive sensitivity to solar radiation. Due to increased photosensitivity, spots form on open areas of the skin, in which pigment is subsequently deposited, after which peeling and atrophy of the affected parts of the skin occur, which degenerate into malignant neoplasms.

Facultative precancerous skin diseases

Chronic dermatitis. arising from contact with potent carcinogens, as well as as a result of x-ray exposure.

The cutaneous horn is a dense, convex, dark brown neoplasm. Most often it is formed in mature and old age on open areas of the skin.

Atheroma. warts and papillomas, subjected to frequent mechanical stress.

Scars after syphilis, burns, lupus. Trophic ulcers.

Keratoacanthoma - benign tumor, which is most often found in people over 50 years old in open areas of the skin: face and head.

Senile dyskeratosis. Manifested in the form of keratinized layers of gray or brown skin

Symptoms and signs of skin cancer in the early stages

There are a number of first signs of skin cancer - the initial degeneration birthmark(nevus) to the malignant side:

• an increase in horizontal and vertical dimensions: it begins to protrude above nearby tissues;
• a previously correct mole becomes asymmetric and takes on bizarre outlines, sometimes with torn edges;
• discoloration, local depigmentation;
• itching and burning in the mole area;
• irritation of the skin over the mole up to the appearance of a small sore;
• wet weeping surface of the mole, sometimes - bleeding;
• if there was a nevus hairline- then its loss;
• peeling of the surface of the mole with the formation of a dry cortical layer;
• small puncture seals on the mole;
• the appearance of moles in the neighborhood;
• change in the state of aggregation of the nevus - its softening or, conversely, compaction;
• suspiciously shiny surface of the mole;
• the disappearance of the skin pattern from the surface of the mole.

Signs of skin cancer (melanoma) photo

Types of skin cancer

There are 4 types of skin cancer:

Basal cell skin cancer (photo) Basalioma or basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
It got its name from the place of its "growth" - the basal layer of the epidermis. This tumor lacks the ability to metastasize and recur. Its migration is directed mainly into the depth of tissues with their inevitable destruction.

About 8 out of 10 of all skin cancers are of this type.

This is the least dangerous of all types of skin tumors. The exception is those cases when the basalioma is located on the face or auricles: in such circumstances, it can reach impressive volumes, affecting the nose, eyes, and damaging the brain. Most often occurs in older people.

Squamous cell skin cancer (photo) Squamous cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
This type of skin cancer occurs in the deeper layers of the skin - among keratinocytes. It is prone to aggressive growth and metastasis to the lymph nodes and internal organs. It does not always develop in open areas of the body: sometimes it can occur, for example, in the mouth.

Cancer of the skin appendages.
malignant neoplasm with localization in the sebaceous and sweat glands or hair follicles. A very rare form of skin cancer. Clinical picture identical to squamous cell carcinoma. Accurate Diagnosis established after a histological examination.

Melanoma (photo) Melanoma.
It is a highly aggressive skin tumor that develops from pigment cells - melanocytes. Melanoma is subject to extremely rapid metastasis, which can no longer be influenced. Outwardly resembles age spot blue-black or pinkish. The start to its development can be an ordinary mole.
In some rather rare cases, this species cancer can develop in the conjunctiva or other structures of the eye, on the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, possibly rectum and vagina.

According to statistics, 1% of the total number of cancers is melanoma.

Diagnosis of skin cancer

First, the oncologist carefully examines the mole under magnifying glass. Then, if there are suspicions, the patient is subjected to a radioisotope study. In cancer, the accumulation of radioactive phosphorus in the damaged area of ​​the skin is 300-400% compared to normal skin. The "gold standard" for skin cancer testing is cytological examination prints from an ulcer or a small amount of tissue taken from a tumor. Another common method is a biopsy, when, when a piece of a tumor is excised, for clarity, a section of healthy tissue is captured.

Metastases are identified using ultrasound and computed tomography.

Skin cancer stages

According to the generally accepted classification, there are 4 stages of skin cancer. At the initial stage of skin cancer, the tumor does not exceed 2 cm, at the 2nd - no more than 5. For the 3rd stage, in addition to the tumor size of more than 5 cm, metastases to nearby lymph nodes are characteristic. The 4th stage is practically the finish line: metastases affect muscles, bones, cartilage.

Skin Cancer Treatment

Treatment of skin cancer, one way or another, is associated with surgical intervention. Objectively surgical removal tumors are the most effective option treatment that allows not only to survive, but also to avoid the return of the neoplasm. The operation to remove the tumor is its excision and removal of adjacent lymph nodes (unless, of course, they are affected). After a successful operation, a radiation or drug therapy, or even all at once.

Radiation therapy - irradiation of the skin area where the tumor was located. It allows you to destroy the cancer cells that are left after the operation. On average, a patient is irradiated for 3-4 weeks.

Drug treatment of skin cancer (chemotherapy) involves the use of various drugs, the action of which is aimed both at the destruction of tumor cells and at increasing the general immunity of the body. By the way, chemotherapy for skin cancer is rarely used.

Probability favorable outcome in skin cancer is relatively high (this does not apply to melanoma). The only thing is that even an operation does not always help at the advanced stages. Unfortunately, relapses are not uncommon in skin cancer, especially after errors in radiotherapy or incomplete removal of the tumor.