Skin Cancer
One in three gets dangerous rays
In Spain, one in three people taking a sun bathing during the times that is most dangerous between 12 am and 4 pm. Delial Garnier and the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) confirmed this figure three a thorough study.
This study also revealed that two percent of Europeans have or have had skin cancer. While 79 percent of Spanish has this evil among their top concerns, even in women this alarm is reflected in a 81 percent of respondents.
Another alarming figure says that only 36 percent of Spanish applied sunscreen against UV rays. However, they recognize that not re-apply the cream all day. When you know that it is necessary applications throughout the day. But the most dangerous thing is to know that 10 percent do not use sunscreen at all.
As for skin care of children, have also revealed worrying figures. As the 34 percent applies protective their children who are not specially designed for sensitive skin .
All in all a calculation that arouses hope is that 41 percent of Spanish in the sun less than it did before. The 46 percent is still doing the same and only 13 confessed that over time in the past.
New ways to fight skin cancer
One of the cancers most common in the world is the skin. It is estimated that in Spain there are six to seven cases per hundred thousand inhabitants and in Australia the figure rises to 42 in every hundred thousand. That’s why two medical institutions are innovating in how to detect and combat this type of cancer.
The first is the Clinical Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, where in a relatively short time has been using a new operating system. This is the Mohs micrographic surgery. With it you can access hard to reach places such as the nose or eyelids.
Is that while the surgeon operates, the anatomist, the tissue removed. In this way. He begins to cut the fabric of downtown, where large percentage of cancer. Then he begins to cut out circles to remove the skin compromised. When the anatomist realize that you have removed all the cancerous tissue and that there is only healthy skin line stops the procedure.
Also, the Carlos Haya Hospital has a unit of teledermatology . This unit is responsible for digitally photograph the area believed to be cancer. This photograph is emailed to a specialist medical center for diagnosis. This will reduce the detection time and you can start, if you require a treatment much faster and therefore more expectation of success.
Skin cancer symptoms
The symptoms of non-melanoma includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Skin cancer “nonmelanoma” is the most common and also less dangerous than the “melanoma.”
Symptoms of skin cancer are:
- Small lump or mole, waxy, pale glossy and smooth.
- A firm red lump.
- A spot or sore that bleeds or does not heal.
- Any kind of growth that is suspicious
Tumors usually are painless, so it is recommended that skin self-examination routinely to detect changes in the skin and an annual review by the health care clinician.
When a mole is suspected irregular or lump should immediately consult a specialist.
Also, people with a family history of cancer or who are at increased risk of developing pre-emptively should consult a dermatologist.
Anyone can develop skin cancer, but there are some who are more likely because they have special features such as:
- People who have freckles
- The clear skin tones
- Those who burn easily.
- People with blue eyes, like green and blue.
- People who have red or blond hair natural.
- Those who spend time outdoors
- Those exposed to the sun continuously and without adequate protection.
- When a family history of suffering from cancer of any of the two groups.
Treatments and remedies for skin cancer
To determine the type of treatment to follow the specialist shall be based on some basic facts:
Age, health status and medical history.
- In which state is the disease.
- Tolerance to certain therapies, procedures and medications.
There are several types of treatments for skin cancer , including:
Surgery is used in most cases, in some cases are treated in other minor surgery and may require more extensive procedures. Can be performed intra-operatively:
- Cryosurgery freezes the tumor and thereby destroy cancer cells.
- Electrodesiccation: It burns and removes the lesion.
- Implants: Once the cancer removed skin grafts to replace the damaged one.
- Laser: cancer cells are eliminated by applying a light beam.
- Mohs micrographic surgery: It removes the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible.
- Simple excision: The tumor and some healthy tissue around it.
Radiation Therapy: With the application of X-rays to kill cancer cells and reduces tumor.
Electro-chemotherapy: A combination of chemotherapy and electrical pulses to the affected area.
Chemotherapy is treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
Topical chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is administered through a cream or lotion.
Systemic Chemotherapy: drugs are administered by pill or injection.
Biological Therapy: Try to make the body fight cancer by using materials created by the same body or laboratory.
Skin Cancer
The two types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. Generally, this type of disease on the face, neck, hands, arms and head. Another type of skin cancer more dangerous but less common than the so-called melanoma.
Anyone can get skin cancer, however there are some behaviors that may increase the chances of suffering, including:
• They spend much time basking in the sun and do it without proper protection.
• People of skin and eyes.
• Family history.
• People over 50 years of age.
Any suspicion or indication on the skin or at the slightest change in appearance in the epidermis should be the referral.
When detected early there are greater chances that the treatment is effective and achieving a complete remission of cancer.
To protect yourself it is advisable not to sunbathe at the times where its rays are strongest (between 10 am and 4 pm), always using the right sunscreen and sunglasses also provide 100% protection .
It is important to monitor and check the skin regularly for any changes in either birthmarks, moles or spots , as these can be a sign of skin cancer.
Childhood Psoriasis
Indeed, his suspicions were confirmed: These lesions responded to the first symptoms of the condition. Now the child is 10 years and the truth is that “although we know that is chronic, when not being very aggressive. In fact, we are only using topical products (creams, ointments, …). ”
Angeles summarizes the daily routine of its small: “A good moisturizer after showering and at night, depending on how you, try the head, body and everything.” As he explains, if you feel your child scratches his head and begins to have an outbreak, has four topical medications to be combined, some other softer and more steroids. Read the rest of this entry »
Precancerous Disease
Actinic keratosis. It is a precancerous skin condition caused by exposure to sunlight. They are small rough spots that can be red, pink or skin color. Usually develop in the face, ears, backs of hands and arms of middle-aged or older who have fair skin, but can also occur in other areas of skin exposed to sunlight.
Generally, people with actinic keratosis develop many more. They usually grow slowly and cause no further symptoms or signs of skin spots. It is possible but not common, AKs become squamous cell cancer. They also often go away by themselves, but may reappear.
Squamous cell carcinoma or Bowen’s Disease: This is the earliest form of skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma. The cells of this cancer are completely within the epidermis, and have not spread to the dermis. It manifests as red spots. Compared with actinic keratoses, stains squamous cell carcinoma in situ are usually larger, often more than ½ inch, a deeper red and more scaly and rough.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Gorlin syndrome is a genetically determined disease in which there are multiple basal cell carcinomas with ‘pits’ on the palms of hands and soles of the feet and other systemic disorders such as jaw cysts, rib and vertebral abnormalities, among others.
The pits (circular punctate lesions of one or two mm) are presented in soles and palms. Are due to an alteration in the maturation of the cells that form this special skin (palmoplantar). In particular, result from the premature desquamation of keratin immature resulting from the delay in the maturation of epidermal basal cells. In some patients, at the base of the lesions detected small basal cell carcinomas.
You should never remove carcinomas with liquid nitrogen or any other system discussed previously. It should be a histologic diagnosis of carcinoma before treating. There are currently no invasive diagnostic methods (confocal microscope) to avoid taking a biopsy. The confocal microscope is a method for analyzing cells in situ on the patient, and non-invasive (no need for skin or stitches).
How to Diagnose Skin Cancer?
The doctor will be based on symptoms presented by the patient’s skin and medical history. When suspicion of abnormality is biopsied. The biopsy the tissue under a microscope to examine the type of cells present.
Depending on where you are the alteration of the skin and in whatever form, and there will be a type of biopsy or another.
Shave biopsy: numbed skin area to be biopsied under local anesthesia and scraping the skin’s upper layers with a scalpel blade.
Incisional and excisional biopsies: removing a wedge of skin. It makes for deeper tumors. With incisional biopsy removes only a part of the tumor for testing. Read the rest of this entry »
Main Measures Before and During Sun Exposure
- Avoid using cosmetic products containing alcohol and perfumes.
- Choosing the right sunscreen, depending on skin type, place of application and environmental conditions.
- Apply a good amount of solar products 30 minutes before sunbathing to dry skin.
- Avoid the sun without protection between midnight and four in the afternoon, at high altitudes and in areas close to Ecuador.
- Water, snow and sand reflect the sun’s rays acting and increasing its intensity. For this reason, it can cause burns even in the shade.
- The first few times you take the sun, you must use a more protective factor.
- Even on cloudy days, use sunscreen.
- You have to drink plenty of fluids to compensate for fluid loss due to sun exposure.
- After a bath, when you are sweating heavily, and after spending two hours of the previous application, will need to reapply sunscreen.
- After exposure to the sun, you have to drink plenty of fluids due to their loss.