skin cancer
This is another common skin condition that is found in many people at a certain age. The older we are, the more our skin has been affected by environmental factors such as the sun, increasing it skin cancer risks.
Let’s break them down, along with the differences in types and how to deal with them.
Why does skin cancer occur more often as we age?
Skin cancer occurs most often in patients aged 50 and over. However, we are recently seeing an increasing rate of skin cancers in people under the age of 50.
“When UV light hits our skin, it can damage the keratinocytes (outer layer of the skin). Over time and repeated exposures, the damage accumulates causing cells to develop mutations, leading to precancerous lesions or skin cancer. So with time and cumulative sun exposure, rates of these lesions increase as we age.”
Basal cell carcinoma
Let’s take a look at the different types of skin cancer, their severity, and what you can do to prevent and even treat them.
How common are basal cells?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Where are you most likely to see them?
“Basal cell carcinoma occurs most often on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, chest, arms and legs. However, BCC can occur anywhere in the body.”
What do they look like?
A basal cell carcinoma can present in a number of ways. BCC can look like a pink bump, a pink to red scaly patch, a scab or sore that doesn’t heal, or a white spot or scar.
If you have an area of concern, it is best to have the lesion evaluated by your Dermatologist.
How are they treated?
Treatment of BCC depends on the size, location and pathological subtype of the lesion. Surgical options include; Mohs microsurgery (higher cure rate), wide local excision or electrocautery and curettage. Non-surgical options include radiation therapy, cryotherapy, or topical chemotherapy creams.
Squamous cell carcinoma
This skin cancer is what we consider #2 of the big three that we cover.
How common is squamous cell carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. Approximately 1.8 million cases of SCC are diagnosed in the United States annually.
Where are you most likely to see them?
“SCC occurs most often in areas of the skin with high sun exposure, such as the face, scalp, ears and hands. However, SCC can occur anywhere in the body, especially in patients with a history of immunosuppression.”
What do they look like?
Squamous cell carcinomas can have a variety of manifestations such as a red rough scaly patch, open sores that do not heal, a tender red bump on the surface of the skin, or a wart or horn-shaped growth.
How are they treated?
Treatment of SCC depends on the size, location and pathologic subtype of the lesion.
“Surgical options include Mohs microsurgery (higher cure rate), wide local excision, or electroablation and curettage. Non-surgical options include radiation therapy, cryotherapy, or topical chemotherapy creams.”
Melanoma
When you think of the deadly skin cancer, this is probably the one you think of most often, since then Melanoma is the most dangerous of skin cancers.
How common is melanoma?
“According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, an estimated 186,680 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US in 2023.”
What does melanoma look like?
“We advise patients to look up the ABCDEs of melanoma. If any of the following occur in your moles, this should prompt patients to call their Dermatologist for an evaluation.”
- Asymmetry: when one half of the lesion does not look like the other half
- Borders: irregular borders or jagged edges of the mole
- Colour: multiple colors within the same mole or the pigment is not uniform
- Diameter: larger than 6mm (pencil eraser) is a worrying feature, however some melanomas may be smaller
- Development: any change in size, shape, appearance or symptoms of a mole over time;
If you notice any of these signs, schedule a skin checkup to catch this skin cancer early.
Where are you more likely to get melanoma?
“Melanoma can appear on either sun-exposed or sun-protected skin. In women, melanomas occur more often on the legs. In men, melanomas appear more often on the trunk.”
How is melanoma treated?
Melanoma treatment depends on how deep the melanoma is in the skin and whether it has spread to other areas of the body.
“Melanomas are usually treated with surgical excision. Some melanomas require a lymph node biopsy. If the melanoma is deep in the skin or has spread to other areas of the body, the patient may need treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation.”
What can I do to prevent skin cancer at my age?
Sun damage is cumulative over your lifetime. We can’t go back and undo the UV damage that’s happened in the past, but it’s important to be diligent about sun protection going forward.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Wear sun protective clothing: wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection, clothing with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF).
- Wear sunscreen daily (even on cloudy days) and reapply every two hours: sunscreens should be SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum
- Seek shade when you can: The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m
- Beware of reflective surfaces: Be especially careful near water, snow and sand because the reflection can cause sunburn
- Avoid tanning beds
- Skin tests: Perform regular skin self-examinations and have an annual (unless instructed more frequently) skin check with a dermatologist
