Skin Cancer Flashcards
Melanomas
malignant skin tumor
arise from melanocytes and appear wherever there is pigment such as Nevis or Moles
Nevi and 3 types of precurser lesions
Moles
3 types: Congenital, dysplastic, and lentigo maligna
Congenital Nevi
Present at birth
Brown to black in color
slightly raised, irregular surface, regular border
Dysplastic Nevi
atypical moles
not present at birth, appear normal during childhood and abnormal during puberty
mostly appear on face, trunk and arms
brown, tan, black, red, pink
Lentigo Maligna
Hutchinsons freckle tan or black, looks like a freckle grows slowly becomes dark, mottled, thick, and nodular appears in areas with high sun exposure
Basal Cell Cancer
epithelial tumor
most aggressive
tends to recur
Nodular basal cell cancer
Location and Manifestations
face, neck, and head
most common type small, firm papule pearly white or pink enlarges may ulterate
Superficial Basal Cell Cancer
Location and Manifestations
trunk and extremities
papules or plaque flat, scaling pink well-defined borders surface crusting
Pigmented Basal Cell Cancer
Location and Manifestations
Head, neck, face
brown, blue, or black
shiny with well defined border
Morpheaform Basal Cell Cancer
Location and Manifestations
Head, neck
fingerlike projection
flat scar
ivory, flesh color
Keratotic Basal Cell Cancer
Location and Manifestations
Ear
Most likely to metastasize
small, firm papule
white, flesh, or pink
may ulcerate
Squamous Cell Cancer
More aggressive than Basal
occurs on areas with most sun exposure (forehead, nose, lip, back of hands)
begins as small red nodules
as grows may ulcerate and bleed
Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk Factors
1) blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin
2) lots of moles and freckles
3) 1st degree relative
4) men with family history of ovarian and breast cancer
5) immunosupressants
6) UV exposure
7) >50 yrs
8) past history
The ABCDEF Rule
A- asymmetrical B- borders C- color (black, red, blue is bad) D-diameter greater than 6mm (size of pencil eraser) E- evolution, elevated, erythema F- funny feeling, fast growing
Nursing Assessment Questions for Skin Cancer
Family History? History of skin cancer/treatment? Changes in moles, freckles birthmarks? itch? bleed? Where have you lived in the country? Badly sunburn? Tanning History? Occupational exposure? Know how to examine skin?
