Skin Cancer: Symptoms, Types & Treatment

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. It occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the skin’s layers, often due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. 

Some skin cancers grow slowly, while others can be aggressive and life-threatening if not caught early. The severity of the disease often depends on the type of skin cancer, how deep it has grown, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

Skin Cancer Types

Here are three common skin cancer types:

Basal cell carcinoma: This starts in the basal cells of the skin. They look like a slightly transparent bump on the skin. 

Squamous cell carcinoma: It can occur in any part of the skin where squamous cells (the outer layer of your skin) are affected.  If it’s not caught and treated early, the cancer may spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma: This is a more dangerous form of skin cancer that starts in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour and helps protect it from the sun’s harmful rays.

Some other types of skin cancer include:

• Merkel cell carcinoma
• Kaposi sarcoma
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma

Based on the above-given skin cancer types, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are categorised as Melanoma Cancer, while the rest come under the Non-Melanoma Cancer.

Both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are divided into stages ranging from 0 to 4. As the stage number increases, the cancer becomes more serious and is more likely to have spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Skin Cancer 

Here are some common warning symptoms related to skin cancer:

• Sores that don’t heal

A shiny, pink or pearly white sore that may also appear red.

• Ulcer

The ulcer can occur and doesn’t heal within 4 weeks.

• Lump

A lump may look like a small, slow-growing, shiny and pink or red.

• Red patches

Sometimes red patches may become itchy. It’s important to see a doctor, as it can be hard to tell whether the patches are cancerous or non-cancerous.

• Freckles or moles

Any changes in the size, shape, or colour of freckles or moles may indicate the presence of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Causes of Skin Cancer

The main reason for skin cancer is exposure to sunlight. The light of the sun has different types of Ultraviolet rays, such as UVA, UVB, and UVC, that are responsible for the cause. Similar to that, tanning beds and tanning lamps have the same kind of light. 

When skin cells are exposed to UV radiation, their DNA can be damaged, leading to mutations that cause uncontrolled cell growth, which can result in skin cancer. 

Risk Factors

Listed are the factors that can increase the risk of skin cancer:

• Sensitive skin: People with sensitive skin, fair hair (such as blond or red), light-coloured eyes, or freckles are more prone to developing skin cancer.
• Light from the sun/tanning beds: Spending time under sunlight or using tanning beds raises the chances of getting skin cancer due to increased exposure to harmful UV rays.
• Weak immune system: A person with a weakened immune system has a high risk of developing skin cancer. This includes persons with leukaemia or lymphoma, and also those who take medications to control their immune system. 
• A history of skin cancer/sunburns: People who’ve had skin cancer or sunburns once are more likely to get skin cancer. 
• Family history of skin cancer: If you have a blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, with skin cancer, then you have a higher chance of getting skin cancer. 

Skin cancer can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. However, it is diagnosed more frequently in non-Hispanic white individuals than in non-Hispanic Black or Asian/Pacific Islander populations. It also tends to occur more often in women under 50 compared to men of the same age.

Also, unfortunately, individuals with darker skin tones get diagnosed at later stages. This can impact their treatment duration. 

Diagnosis of Skin Cancer 

Skin cancer diagnosis typically starts with a physical exam through the dermatoscope, especially if you’ve noticed changes like unusual moles, freckles, or sores. If something suspicious is found, your doctor may recommend further tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the stage of the cancer:

Skin Cancer Biopsy

In a biopsy, skin tissue is taken for a lab test to further confirm the presence of the skin cancer. If skin cancer is confirmed, your doctor may recommend tests to find out how far the cancer has progressed.

CT/MRI Scan

These tests help determine the stage of cancer, which ranges from 0 to IV. A higher stage indicates that the cancer is more advanced and may be more difficult to treat.

Common staging procedures include imaging scans like CT and MRI, which show the size of the tumour and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Another test is the sentinel lymph node biopsy, where nearby lymph nodes are removed and examined. If these nodes are clear of cancer, it usually means the disease has not spread beyond the original site.

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is diagnosed before the treatment through physical examination, dermatoscopy, and biopsy to confirm the type and stage. There are different types of skin cancer treatment available, including:

Surgery: Skin tumours are removed by using different surgical methods. These methods include large excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, or other excisions.

Chemotherapy: In this, strong drugs are used to kill cancer cells. It can be applied as a cream for early skin cancers or given by mouth or injection for more advanced cases.

Radiation Therapy: It directs high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It’s often used when surgery isn’t possible or to kill leftover cells after surgery.

Immunotherapy: It boosts or changes the immune system to help it recognise and attack cancer cells more effectively. 

Targeted Therapy: This blocks specific mutations in cancer cells, like the BRAF mutation in melanoma, stopping tumour growth with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the cancer-affected area, then the dead cells are sloughed off after treatment. 

Photodynamic therapy: Blue or red fluorescent lights are used to activate the cancerous or precancerous cells. This method also kills precancerous cells while leaving the normal cells.

Either a single or a combination of treatments is used based on your cancer type and stage. Sometimes, a biopsy can also remove the cancer if it’s small and situated in that area only.

Also, post-operative care may take a few weeks to months, as per your situation

Recovery from skin cancer treatment varies based on the type and stage of cancer. Most people heal well with proper care and regular follow-ups.

Complications/Side Effects of Skin Cancer Treatment

The skin cancer treatment’s side effect depends basically on the type of treatment taken. However, for chemotherapy for skin, they show some common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and hair loss.

Some other side effects are:

• Pain and swelling
• Bleeding
• Scars
• Skin infection
• Sometimes, nerve damage results in loss of sensation 
• Regrowth of a tumour after its removal

Prevention of Skin Cancer

Listed are the ways to protect yourself from skin cancer:

• Use broad-spectrum sunscreens, mostly with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher
• Wear protective clothing to protect yourself from the sunlight
• To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses that can block both UVA and UVB. And for lips, use lip balm with sunscreen 
• Avoid using tanning beds; instead, use spray tanning products to tan your body
• Know about the medication that makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. These types of medications include tetracycline and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, tricyclic antibiotics, the antifungal agent griseofulvin and statin cholesterol-lowering drugs. 
• Regularly check your skin for any changes, such as size, colour, shape or the development of any spots, scars, lumps or moles. Also, don’t forget to check your scalp, ears, the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, between your toes, your genital area and between your buttocks. To be sure, you can also book an appointment to get a full skin checkup with your dermatologist. 

Key Takeaways

Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or skin tone. That’s why regular self-examinations are essential to detect any unusual changes, such as new moles, freckles, or sores that don’t heal. 

Early detection is key to successful treatment. For the best skin cancer treatment cost in India, consult the best oncologists and top cancer hospitals in India.