Oncology >>>> Causes and prevention of skin cancer
Causes and prevention of skin cancer.
According to statistics, such an oncological disease as skin cancer occurs more often in the elderly (it is less common in young people). But in recent years, this type of cancer has "rejuvenated". Some patterns have been identified that contribute to the occurrence of skin cancer:
- The most likely damage to light-skinned people living in southern countries (especially not locals, but visitors)The incidence is higher in people working under the scorching sun (e.g., fishermen, agricultural workers, sailors)
- Fashion trends of artificial tanning in solariums reduce the age of skin cancer
- It can occur during prolonged work with carcinogenic substances that come into contact with the skin (for example, products of processing of coal tar, arsenic).
- Often occurs in places of past injuries, burns , trophic ulcers, fistulas.
- The precursors of skin cancer can be chronic inflammation of the skin (lasting for decades) in some diseases, for example: skin tuberculosis, lupus erythematosus, syphilis.
- There are skin conditions called precancerous lesions that almost always lead to skin cancer.
Diagnosis of skin cancer in the early stages is often difficult due to the fact that it arises and proceeds unnoticed by an uninformed person, and sometimes not every doctor can correctly diagnose its appearance (this requires a certain practice of differential diagnosis with certain diseases affecting the skin) ... All suspicious deformities of the skin (red atypical moles, outgrowths, local changes in skin color, pigmentation, towering formations, bleeding or poorly healing ulcers) should be examined. The diagnosis is made based on the biopsy performed.
Detected in a timely manner, skin cancer is well treated surgically (depending on the extent of the process, either a pathological focus or a tumor with surrounding healthy tissues is excised). The mortality rate from this type of cancer is the lowest compared to other types of cancer.
There are two forms of skin cancer that differ in their histological structure:
Basal cell skin cancer (light nodules) is the most common form and the most favorable in its outcome, practically does not metastasize, localization is most often in the face (wings of the nose, nasolabial fold, inner corner of the eye, temples, forehead)
Squamous cell skin cancer (red papules or nodules) - usually located on the skin of the arms, legs, back, head, neck. It proceeds most severely with lesions of the lower extremities, metastasizes along the lymphogenous pathway (less often - along the hematogenous pathway)
Preventive measures to prevent skin cancer are carried out in several directions:
- People with fair skin, which does not lend itself well to sunburn, need to use protective creams from ultraviolet radiation, do not get carried away by sunbathing, do not stay under the scorching rays of the sun for a long time (especially without clothes).
- Cover your face, neck, head, shoulders, back if you need to stay in places not protected from the sun for a long time.
- Forget about tanning beds.
- The onset of cancer is preceded by precancerous changes in the skin, which must be paid close attention to and promptly treated.
- Moles, papillomas, scars should be protected from ultraviolet radiation.
The sooner skin cancer is diagnosed, the easier it will be to deal with it. Self-examination of the skin plays an important role in the prevention and early detection of precancerous and cancerous skin diseases, therefore, regular examination of your own skin and a timely visit to a dermatologist (or oncologist) doctor will help maintain health.
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