|
Focus On Skin Cancer
And Melanoma
By
Claire Y. Fung,
MD |
 Weymouth
- The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008,
almost 1.5 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer. In
the future, even greater numbers of people— especially
seniors—will be diagnosed with cancer and the number of
people living with cancer is expected to double by 2050.
Optimism continues to grow in cancer care. Improved
prevention, early detection and treatment for many forms of
cancer are contributing to a decline in the cancer mortality
rate. It is estimated that up to 35% of cancer-caused deaths
can be avoided through screening. In fact, detecting cancer
in its earliest and most treatable form is the best way to
protect yourself.
Whatever your age and level of risk, you can empower
yourself with knowledge about screening guidelines. For a
comprehensive guide to the latest, nationally accepted
guidelines for men and women, visit http://www.commonwealthatrius.
com/pdfs/screening_guidelines.pdf
In future Community Cancer Care columns, we will focus on
different forms of cancer. This month, as we welcome
springtime and prepare for sunny days, we look at skin
cancer and melanoma.
Skin Cancer and Melanoma
The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that more
than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each
year, with 116, 500 new cases of melanoma diagnosed last
year. Common non-melanoma skin cancers include basal cell
and squamous cell cancers. Basal cell cancer rarely spreads
while squamous cell cancers may sometimes spread to regional
lymph nodes. These cancers are less worrisome than
melanomas, which are much less common but far more serious
because of their propensity to spread to other parts of the
body. However, all of these cancers are curable when treated
in early stages, so early screening is the best defense.
If you have an average level of risk, you should
self-examine all parts of your body every month. In men,
about one in three melanomas occurs on the back. You should
also plan for a yearly skin examination.
Individuals at increased risk include:
• Those with red or blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin, or
skin that freckles easily.
• Those with skin that burns and doesn’t tan with sun
exposure.
• Those with atypical moles that appear in areas exposed to
the sun.
• Those treated with medicines that suppress the immune
system. • Those 70 years of age or older.
Individuals at high risk include:
• Those with excessive UV exposure.
• Those with many atypical (unusual-looking) or large moles.
• Those with a family history of melanoma.
• Those with blistering sunburns during childhood.
If you are at increased or high risk for skin cancer, you
should speak to your healthcare provider about scheduling
screenings or establishing short intervals between full-body
skin exams.
Also, if you have a suspicious lesion (abnormal, altered
skin) or unusual- looking mole, you should see your primary
healthcare provider and ask about consulting a
dermatologist.
Treating Skin Cancers
Treatments for skin cancers vary according to the type
and severity. Options for basal cell and squamous cell
cancers generally include surgery, cryotherapy with liquid
nitrogen, radiation therapy, and topical creams. Treatment
for melanoma, even when it is localized, is more involved
and may include wide surgical excision sometimes coupled
with sampling of lymph nodes, immunotherapy, radiation
therapy, and chemotherapy. You should consult with your
surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist to
determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Of course, all individuals should take proper precautions by
limiting their exposure to the sun and applying proper
amounts of sun block. If you have a strong family history of
cancer and are curious about your propensity for skin or
other cancers, you may also look into genetic counseling and
testing. |
About The Author
Claire Y. Fung, MD, is Director of Radiation Oncology,
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, at Commonwealth Atrius
Cancer Center in Weymouth. Commonwealth Atrius, is a
comprehensive, freestanding cancer center, and is a
collaboration between Commonwealth Hematology-Oncology and
Atrius Health. The Cancer Center features all non-surgical
cancer care services— medical oncology, radiation oncology,
and imaging-under one roof. The radiation oncology suite,
operated by Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (an
affiliate of Atrius Health), offers advanced radiation
therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT.) Visit
www.commonwealthatrius.com. For more information, visit
www.commonwealthatrius.com, www.cancer. org, www.cancer.gov,
or www.aad.org/media/press/month.html.
|
|
