RADIATION THERAPY FOR SKIN CANCER
Understanding Your Treatment Options

About Skin Cancer

The skin is the body's largest organ. Its purpose is to protect internal organs against heat, damage and infection. The skin is also the most exposed organ to sunlight and other forms of harmful ultraviolet rays. There are three major types of skin cancer.

• Basal cell carcinoma: The most common form of skin cancer. These cancers begin in the outer layer of skin (epidermis).
• Squamous cell carcinoma: The second most common type of skin cancer. These cancers also begin in the epidermis.
• Melanoma: Melanoma begins in skin cells called melanocytes that produce skin color (melanin), and is the most serious skin cancer.

Signs of Skin Cancer

Check your skin monthly and discuss anything unusual with your doctor. Most skin cancers are curable if they are detected and treated early. Keep record of new marks or moles on your skin and whether or not they have changed in size or appearance.

The American Cancer Society's "ABCD rule" can help distinguish a normal mole from melanoma:

• Asymmetry: The two halves of a mole do not match.
• Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are jagged or uneven.
• Color: Varying shades of tan, brown or black and sometimes patches of red, blue or white.
• Diameter: The mole is larger than a quarter inch in size.

The American Cancer Society recommends a skin examination by a doctor every three years for people between 20 and 40 years of age and annually for anyone over the age of 40.

Diagnosing Skin Cancer

If initial test results show abnormal skin cells, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist. If the dermatologist suspects skin cancer, a biopsy, or sample of skin from the designated area, will be checked for cancer. There are three types of skin cancer biopsies.

• Shave biopsy: The doctor "shaves" or scrapes off the top layers of the skin with a surgical blade.
• Punch biopsy: This type removes a deeper skin sample with a tool that resembles a tiny cookie cutter.
• Incisional and excisional biopsies: For an incisional biopsy, a surgeon cuts through the full thickness of skin and removes a wedge for further examination. An excisional biopsy removes the entire tumor.

Other tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan or MRI may be used to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

< Back | Page 2 | Next >