SKIN CANCERBy: Amanda Chahulski and Amanda Hall

WHAT IS SKIN CANCER? Skin Cancer is the uncontrollable growth of

abnormal skin cells.- Skin Cancer may appear when cells are

exposed to some external environmental condition

CAUSES OF SKIN CANCER It occurs when there is unrepaired DNA

damage to skin cells, which results in malignant tumors.

- Ultra-violet light exposure from sunlight; most frequent cause

- Use of tanning booths- Exposure to mass amounts of x-rays- Exposure to certain chemicals

INHERITED… OR NOT? Cancer in general, is cause by a mixture of

both environmental and genetic factors. - SKIN CANCER CAN IN FACT BE INHERITED- Environment plays the key role in Skin Cancer- 5-10% of cancers are hereditary

CANCER EFFECTS ON THE BODY Immunosuppression-impairment: the

suppression of the immune system- The immune system protects the body from

foreign entities and germs Marks on the skin that can be brown or red- Will often turn red before brown (also known

as sunburn) - Depending on melanin levels in the body.

If you have a mass amount of melanin in your body, you are less likely to have sunburn, compared to if you have a low amount of melanin in your body.

STAGES OF SKIN CANCER Spreading of skin cancer: Through tissue, through the lymph system

and through the bloodStage 0: Abnormal cells are found in the squamous cell layer of the

epidermis (topmost layer of the skin). This stage is also called carcinoma in situ

Stage 1: The tumor which has formed is no more that 2 centimeters. In this stage cancer has officially formed

Stage 2: The tumor is continuing to grow, and it is either larger than 2 centimeters at its widest point or is any size (these are a more developed cancer)

Stage 3: The cancer has started to spread throughout the body. The cancer may have spread to one of the lymph nodes. (which is not any bigger than 3 centimeters)

Stage 4: The tumor has spread from the jaw, eye socket or side of the skull. The cancer has spread to one side of the lymph node on the same size of the body (the lymph node is no smaller than 3 centimeters and no larger than 6 centimeters)

*THE OUTCOME OF THESE STAGES IS UNKNOWN. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON HOW EARLY YOU CATCH THE CANCER, AND HOW YOU DECIDE TO GO ABOUT TREATING IT. IF THE CANCER IS LEFT ALONE, THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF EVERYTHING IS DEATH*

STAGES OF SKIN CANCER

HOW IS THIS DETECTED? Knowing that you have cancer can sometimes be more

difficult than you assume, what many people look at as sunburn or even just an everyday mole could be cancer.

-Moles!!!! (Commonly not thought to be cancer)

-Color changes

-Increase in size or thickness

-Changes in texture

-Irregular outlines

-Bigger than 6mm, ¼” (the size of a pencil eraser)

-Appears after the age of 21

-An open cut that does not heal within 2 weeks

-A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed

-A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown or multi-colored

SKIN CANCER TREATMENTS Depending on how early you catch the cancer, what treatment option you choose

may vary.

Clinical Trials: Research studies to test promising new or experimental cancer treatments

Targeted Therapy: specific drugs target the abnormal aspects of tumor cells without harming other healthy cells

Surgery: Used in early cases of cancer.

-Simple Excision

-Mohs Surgery

-Wide Local Excision

-Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Immunotherapy: systematic therapy used for high risk cancers

-Yervoy (ipilimumab or ipi)

-Interferon alpha 2b

-Interleukin-2 (Il-2)

Chemotherapy: Medication is given in hopes of destroying the cancer cells

Radiation Therapy: Prevent recurrence

Regional Perfusion (Isolated Limb Perfusion): Used to treat one limb that is affected by the cancer that cannot be removed by surgery alone

IS THERE A CURE? As of now there is no guaranteed cure for

Skin Cancer, but the treatments that are available are known to be very effective in stopping the spread of the cancer cells

-Finding the cancer in the earliest stages will increase your chances of choosing a treatment that could remove all the cancer

-Especially if it is a tumor that has been caught early

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION Skin Cancer is commonly not known by many

because they do not know the warning signs, being educated on the cancer will help in the prevention of it.

Prevention:

-Wear sunblock!!! ALWAYS!!

-Give yourself monthly checks!

-Do not use tanning beds and avoid all UV light

-Cover up

-Do not burn!

-See your physician every year

FACTS! More people are diagnosed with skin cancer

than people with breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined

1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

One American dies of skin cancer every hour Medical costs for skin cancer treatments are

$2 billion annually*DON’T BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO THINK

THAT THEY WONT GET IT! IT IS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE SKIN CANCER! BE EDUCATED!*

SUPPORT GROUPS Finding support groups for skin cancer and

cancer alone is easy! They are everywhere.-JamesCare for Life-American Cancer Society Even just going online, there are chat rooms

for cancer patients where you can share your stories and help others through rough times

RESOURCES 1.(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/

treatment/skin/Patient/page2) 2. (http://www.skincancerprevention.org/skin-

cancer) 3. (http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-

information/early-detection/if-you-can-spot-it-you-can-stop-it)

4.(http://americancancerfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=81&gclid=CNSv_pjF27MCFexAMgodLxkAKQ)

5. (http://www.melanoma.org/learn-more/melanoma-treatment-center-finder?gclid=CP6RtPiJ3rMCFUZgMgod-l8AcQ)