Understanding
Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, caused by unrepaired DNA damage, thus triggering mutations. This mutation causes the skin cells to proliferate rapidly and form malignant tumors. The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.
Etiology
Excessive sun exposure is thought to cause skin damage and trigger abnormal growth in skin cells. Some other conditions that play a role in increasing risk factors include:
There is a history of skin cancer in the family
Has a light skin tone
Having moles in a large number or large size
Poor body immunity
Viral infection
Having wounds that don't heal for a long time (chronic non-healing wounds) especially burns
Radiation exposure
Exposure to compounds or chemicals
Clinical Symptoms
Skin cancer appears primarily on areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight, including the skin of the head, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and feet. This disease can also form in areas that are rarely exposed to sunlight, such as the palms of the hands, under the fingernails or toenails, and the genital area.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is characterized by the appearance of soft and shiny lumps on the surface of the skin. They can also be flat shaped lesions on the skin that are dark or reddish brown coloured that are similar to flesh.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by the appearance of red and hard lumps on the skin. It can also be a lesion with a flat shape and scaly like a crust. These lesions can feel itchy, bleed, even become crusty.
Malignant Melanoma
Melanoma skin cancer is marked by the appearance of spots or bumps that are brown. Melanoma does look like a regular mole,
but the shape is irregular. The ABCDE method can be used to differentiate melanoma from ordinary moles, including:
Asymmetrical, most melanoma skin cancers have an asymmetrical shape.
Borders or edges of melanoma skin cancer tend to be irregular.
The color of melanoma skin cancer is usually more than one.
The diameter or size of melanoma skin cancer is usually more than 6 millimeters
Evolution, that is the occurrence of changes in the shape, color, or size of a mole.
This is the most important sign of melanoma skin cancer.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is obtained from anamnesis, physical examination and supporting examinations. Supporting examinations can take the form of a biopsy, a procedure of taking a sample from skin tissue and examination carrying out in the laboratory. If the skin problem that occurs is indeed caused by cancer, the stage or level of severity of the skin cancer that has occurred can be determined. Next next
Other supporting examinations are carried out, such as MRI, CT scan, or lymph node biopsy to find out the spread of cancer cells.
Therapy
Therapy for skin cancer consists of surgical and non-surgical therapy, including :
Surgery by excision
Surgery with Mohs Micrographic Surgery Technique
Curettage and cautery
Frozen surgery
Photodynamic therapy
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Prevention
Some steps that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of skin cancer include:
Avoid excessive sun exposure during the day, especially between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Use sunscreen regularly to prevent the absorption of UV rays into the skin while reducing the risk of damage to the skin due to sunlight.
Wear clothing that covers the body, such as a shirt with long sleeves and long pants.
Wear a hat and sunglasses when leaving the house to help provide extra protection to the eye and head areas from the sun.
As much as possible, avoid using tanning beds or tools to darken the skin. Because, this tool emits ultraviolet radiation which is very dangerous for the skin.
Routinely do skin examinations and immediately ask a doctor if there are any skin abnormalities, especially on previously owned moles
such as the size enlarges and expands, the color darkens, the edges of the lesion become irregular, there are additional lesions around the lesion, the consistency becomes soft or brittle, the flat shape becomes protruding and irregular, the surface of the lesion has sores, and the appearance of itching on the mole .