Skin cancer

Question 1

Pre-cancerous skin lesions

Answer 1

Normal, age related changes
Associated with overexposure to sunlight

Question 2

precancerous- seborrheic keratosis

Answer 2

looks like a mole, rarely develop into malignancy

Question 3

percancerous- actinic keratosis

Answer 3

flush, rough, pink, most common pre cancerous lesion, pink, reddish, red-brown, scaly macules or papules

Question 4

Squamous cell carcinoma

Answer 4

uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in squamous cells (epidermis)

caused by: sun exposure or chronic irritation

Assessment- scaly red patches, open sores, elevated growths with central depression, crusty, raised, divot in the middle that bleeds, irregular shape, may crust or bleed

Common to metastasize

Treatment- early detection and removal- highly curable

Question 5

Basal cell carcinoma

Answer 5

uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cell in basal layer of epidermis

caused by: sun exposure, genetic, chronic irritation

assessment: pearly, raised lesion with depressed center, bleeding from center -> crusting and scaling

rarely metastasizes

Treatment: depends on site/ extent- healing time more lengthy, may need sutures

Question 6

basal cell

Answer 6

flat, flushed, center bleeding

Question 7

Squamus

Answer 7

scaley

Question 8

Melanoma

Answer 8

uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells from melanin-producing epidermal cells

Increased incidence- sun exposure, thinning ozone

high rate of metastasis, aggressive, catching early isn’t always helpful

Assessment: irregularly shaped borders with red, white or blue tones- on nail

treatment: always excised, may use virotherapy (viruses attack cancer cells)

Chemo- treat metastasis
Radiation- won’t do much, only stops growth

Question 9

Melanoma

Answer 9

asymmetrical, uneven borders, different colors, diameter large, growing, feels rough

Question 10

ABCDEF

Answer 10

Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Color variation
Diameter
Evolution
Feeling

Question 11

Skin cancer treatments

Answer 11

• surgical excision
• cryosurgery/freezing- freeze site and use scalpel to scrape off
• curettage and electrodissection- cautery tool and scalpel to scrape away
• topicals- chemo
• systemic chemo- palliation and metastasis
• biotherapy (interferon)- immune system to prevent abnormal growth