Skin Cancer Flashcards
What are the types of non-melanoma skin cancer?
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
What percentage increase has there been in Scotland for Squamous Cell Carcinoma between 1990 and 2011?
334%
What factors may be responsible for the increase in squamous cell carcinoma rates in Scotland?
Cheaper air travel
More leisure time
Sun seeking Behaviour
Ageing Population
Roughly how many skin cancers were diagnosed in the UK during 2015?
around 250,000
What percentage of skin cancers are melanomas?
6%
** BUT THEY ACCOUNT FOR 75% DEATHS**
What feature of melanocytes makes their cancers more likely to metastasize?
They are motile cells
unlike keratinocytes
What is the Breslow Thickness?
depth to which the tumour has invaded
What is the 5 year survival of a tumour of Breslow thickness <1mm?
95-100%
What is the 5 year survival of a tumour of Breslow thickness >4mm?
50%
What is the ABCDE to early diagnosis of skin cancer?
A - Asymmetry B - Border (irregular) C - Colour (multiple) D - Diameter (large) E - Evolution (changing quickly over weeks/months)
What other features should you look out for when diagnosing skin cancer?
The “ugly duckling” sign
=> lesion is different from all others that patient has
Excision scars (particularly in same place as current mole)
What cancer is often confused with melanoma in younger people?
Pyogenic Granuloma
- type of vascular lesion
What piece of equipment is used to visualise lesions more closely?
Dermatoscope
How quickly do Basal Cell Carcinomas arise?
Slowly growing lump (OR non healing ulcer)
Are basal cell carcinomas painful?
No, therefore patients often ignore them