Skin Cancer:

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Skin Cancer What You Should Know
Randy R. Weigel University of Wyoming Cooperative
Extension Service
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Skin Cancer

• Most common cancer in US
• Fastest increasing cancer in US
• 1,000,000 people had some form
• of skin cancer in 2003

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Skin Cancer

• Three main types
• -- basal-cell
• -- squamous-cell
• -- melanoma
• The main difference between melanomas and other
  skin cancers is that melanoma can
• metastasize (spread) to distant body sites
• including the lungs, liver or brain.

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The Skin Melanoma
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Basal Cell Carcinoma
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
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Melanoma
Seventh most common cancer in the United
States. One out of every 105 Americans born in
1991 will develop malignant melanoma (compared to
1 out of 1,500 in 1935). The number of new
cases of melanoma has more than doubled since
1973.
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Melanoma (cont.)

• Most common cancer in young adults age
• 25-29
• Among women age 30-35, incidence is
• exceeded only by breast cancer
• Incidence increasing 4 annually, higher than
• any other cancer
• On average, one melanoma death in the U.S.
• per hour

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Melanoma (cont.)

• Increase is the result of recreational sun
• exposure, thinning of the ozone layer, and
• better detection.
• In 2001, an estimated 48,000 new cases
• of melanoma occurred.
• In 2003, 54,000 new cases occurred
• In 2000, skin cancer claimed the lives of
• 9,600 people.

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Top 8 Invasive Cancers Wyoming and US, 1997
Wyoming United States Prostrate Prostrate
Breast Breast Lung Lung Colon Colon
Bladder Lymphoma Melanoma Bladder Lymphoma
Melanoma Rectal Rectal
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Wyoming and Melanoma

• 72 people died from melanoma cancer
• from 1992-1996.
• Wyoming ranked 2nd in the U.S. for
• melanoma deaths from 1992-1996.
• Wyoming ranked 5th in the U.S. for melanoma
• deaths from 1996-2000
• Which Wyoming counties had the highest
• of melanoma cases?

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ABCDs

• Asymmetry
• Border
• Color
• Diameter

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Asymmetry
One half does not match the other half.
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Border irregularity
The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
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Color
The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan,
brown, or black are present. A mottled appearance.
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Diameter
Greater than ¼ inch. Any sudden or continuing
increase in size is of special concern.
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Normal Mole
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Malignant Mole
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Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation UVA UVB - UVC

• The sun radiates energy over a broad spectrum of
• wavelengths. UV radiation, which has a shorter
• wavelength than visible blue or violet light, is
• responsible for sunburns and other health
  effects
• Skin cancer
• Cataracts
• Suppression of the immune system
• Premature aging of the skin

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Sunburns
We found an increased risk of melanoma related
to the frequency of sunburns during all periods
of life. More than five sunburns doubled the
melanoma risk, irrespective of the time in
life. British
Journal of Dermatology (2001)
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What Can You Do?

• Increasing Awareness
• -- that melanoma is serious
• -- the importance of
• prevention
• -- self-exams
• -- getting in and getting it
• treated

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Malignant Mole
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See Spot See Spot Change See Doctor. Or,
See Spot Kill!