Skin Neoplasms

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancer types diagnosed in our country every year. Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common subtypes. Most skin cancers are caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. A history of sunburn increases the risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is related to the total amount of time you have been exposed to the sun all your life. This means that the workers working outdoors are at high risk of developing this cancer.

Blond people with light hair and eye colours or people that are burnt rather than tanned have a higher risk of sun damage compared to dark-skinned people.

CHECK YOURSELF

It is very important for a person to gain the habit of checking on his/her own skin. If the person detects any recently formed wounds or spots on his/her body that do not disappear within 4-6 weeks or that keeps growing, he/she should consult a plastic surgeon to have them checked. This is particularly important if the person is at high risk of developing skin cancer or has previously been treated for skin cancer.

SKIN CANCERS CAN BE SEEN IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

1) Spots or wounds non-healing within 4 weeks

2) Spots or wounds with itching, pain, crusting or bleeding lasting longer than 4 weeks

3) Rapid growth, shape and colour changes of the existing moles

4) New and rapidly growing moles

5) Dark spots appearing on your nail bed without any trauma

 

MELANOMAS

Melanomas are one of the most malignant types of cancer originating from cells that give colour to the skin. They can be seen all over the body. They may originate from existing moles as well as from normal skin. Rapidly growing moles with colour changes, shape changes, open wounds or dark spots may be a symptom of this disease.

BASAL CELL SKIN CANCERS

Basal cell skin cancers are small, slowly progressing lesions that develop in the form of exfoliation, vascularization and peeling of the skin. If left untreated, they tend to crust, bleed, and ulcerate. Although they are more benign compared to other types of skin cancer, they may become life-threatening in the long term if left untreated.

SQUAMOUS CELL SKIN CANCERS

Squamous cell carcinomas are usually in the form of ulcers. They start in the form of hard wounds with a red background colour, especially in the face and lip region, and if it neglected, they spread out to the surrounding tissues and take the form of a crater. It is a type of skin cancer that needs more attention because of the risk of spread to neighbouring lymph nodes.

HOW ARE SKIN CANCERS DIAGNOSED?

Diagnosis can be made with clinical observation and pathological examination. If the suspected lesion is small, all of it is removed and if it is big, some of it is surgically removed and sent for examination.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TREAT SKIN CANCERS?

Most skin cancers are completely treatable if diagnosed early. However, treatment success decreases in the case of advanced cases. Therefore, early diagnosis is extremely important as in all other cancer types.

HOW ARE SKIN CANCERS TREATED?

The aim of treatment is to remove or destroy the tumour tissue in a non-recurrent manner. The treatment should leave the minimum scar on the patient and should not cause a functional loss. Although the preferred method is surgical removal, in cases where there is spreading or tumour cannot be completely cleared, methods such as burning, freezing, drug therapy can be used together with surgery or alone.