Skin Cancer

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Skin Cancer

• 9th Grade

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Skin Cancer Facts

• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in
  the U.S. and accounts for approximately 50 of
  all cancers.
• The incidence of skin cancer is greater than
  breast, lung, prostate, colon, and kidney cancers
  added together.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in
  their lifetime.
• About one million people are diagnosed with skin
  cancer every year in the U.S.
• One American dies every hour from skin cancer.

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Types of Skin Cancer

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently
  diagnosed skin cancer (2.8 million every year in
  U.S.).
• This skin cancer occurs in heavily sun-exposed
  areas of the skin.

• This type of skin cancer usually appears on the
  face, neck, ears, lips, and nose.
• Basal cell carcinoma rarely results in death, but
  it can spread and cause more serious health
  problems.

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Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Basal cell carcinomas typically occur as light
  pink or flesh-colored bumps with pearly or waxy
  appearances.
• They grow slowly and are almost never fatal but,
  if neglected, they can grow to the point where
  disfiguring surgery is necessary to remove them.
• Although common in all areas of the country, it
  is especially prevalent in southern states.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common
  skin cancer (700,000 cases every year in U.S.).
• It is more aggressive than basal and can spread
  to other parts of the body and may result in
  death (approximately 2,500/year).
• Squamous cell carcinoma also tends to occur in
  the most heavily sun-exposed areas of the skin.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Squamous cell carcinomas often start as flat red
  or brown splotches which become rough, dry, and
  scaly.
• If not treated, they may eventually grow large
  enough to spread to nearby internal organs and be
  fatal.
• It occurs in all areas of the country, but is
  more prevalent in southern states.

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Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

• Approximately 1 million cases of basal and
  squamous cell carcinomas are diagnosed each year
  in the U.S.

• Good news
• With early detection and treatment, basal and
  squamous cell carcinomas have a cure rate of more
  than 95.

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Melanoma

• Malignant melanoma is the most deadly of the
  three types of cancer.
• Melanoma accounts for less than 5 of the skin
  cancer cases.
• It causes more than 75 of the skin cancer
  deaths.
• Melanoma causes about 8,790 deaths each year in
  the U.S.

Source CDC http//www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/ http/
/www.skincancer.org/
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Melanoma

• Melanoma cases are increasing faster than any
  other cancer.
• Melanoma is the most common cancer among 25-29
  year-olds and second for 15-29 year-olds.
• Vulnerability to melanoma begins at age 12, much
  earlier than other skin cancers.

• If not removed early, while thin, melanoma often
  grows rapidly, spreads to distant internal
  organs, and is fatal.
• It is equally likely to occur in all areas of the
  country.

Source CDC http//www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/ http/
/www.skincancer.org/
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Ordinary Moles

• ORDINARY MOLES have all of these features
• Round or oval shape  
• Sharp, even borders with skin  
• Uniform color (usually brown)  
• Less than 1/4 inch wide
• Cauliflower or smooth surface  
• Even dome shape if mole is raised

http//www.skincheck.org/
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Atypical Melanoma Moles

• ATYPICAL MOLES often have one or more of these
  features
• Irregular shape  
•   Uneven and/or fuzzy borders
• with skin
• Two or more shades of brown
• or pink
• 1/4 inch wide or more  
• Cauliflower or smooth surface 
• Flat edges with "fried egg"
• center if mole is raised

http//www.skincheck.org/
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Risk Factors for Skin Cancer

• Fair skin
• Light hair color
• Family history of skin cancer
• Blistering sunburn before the age of 20
• Atypical moles

• Indoor tanning
• Large number of normal moles

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Controllable Risk Factors
Risk Factor Risk Percentage
Intermittent exposure of normally covered skin to strong sunlight High
One blistering sunburn under the age of 20 2 times as likely
Three or more blistering sunburns under the age of 20 5 times as likely
One tanning bed session under the age of 30 Almost 2 times as likely
Ten or more tanning bed sessions in one year under the age of 30 Almost 8 times as likely
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Warning Signs of Melanoma

Any change in a mole, blemish, freckle, birthmark, or pigmented area

A new mole or freckle that appears or is growing rapidly, especially if you don't have many moles, or the new mole or freckle looks different from those you do have
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A mole or other growth that has any of the ABCD
properties

• A Asymmetry
• Radial melanomas are often unsymmetrical an
  imaginary line through the middle does not
  produce matching halves

• B Border
• The borders of radial melanomas may be uneven,
  fuzzy, or have notched or scalloped edges.

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• C Color
• Radial melanomas often begin to show color
  changes in areas, with shades of black, brown,
  tan, and sometimes other colors.

• D Diameter
• Unlike normal or atypical moles, radial
  melanomas often grow larger than the width of a
  pencil eraser.

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Warning Signs of Melanoma

A change in surface texture or in the way a mole feels to the touch

A new "freckle" that is dark, dry, or scaly

A pigmented area or splotch that is new or that you don't remember seeing before
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Warning Signs of Melanoma

A new spot that is black, even if very small

A mole or other spot that looks or behaves differently than those around it, even if it seems otherwise normal

A mole or other spot that itches and/or bleeds

Redness, other color, or shadow extending into the surrounding skin
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Does where we live matter?
Figures, rounded to the nearest ten, are from
American Cancer Society Cancer Facts Figures
2011.
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UV Index

• Ultraviolet Rays (UV) The ozone layer shields
  the earth from harmful UV radiation. Ozone
  depletion, weather and the seasons cause
  different amounts of UV radiation to reach the
  earth.

• UV Index Click here for an explanation of UV
  Index.
• UV Index for your town Use this link to see the
  current UV index in your town.

Note Slide must be in display mode for
websites to be active.
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Sun Smart

• In your group, discuss and record ways to reduce
  your chances of skin cancer.