Skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, others) is an abnormal, unregulated growth of cells of skin. It is important to be aware of a change in the colour, appearance or other symptoms in a long-standing mole or an old scar/ wound, or a new appearance of the same.
Often, but not always, skin cancer will involve areas exposed more to sunlight. An early intervention may mean catching the cancer at a curable stage. Outcome will depend on the type, stage and location of the cancer. Unlike bone and muscle cancer, skin cancer frequently spreads to lymph nodes, and staging involves evaluation of regional lymph nodes as well.
Skin Cancer Doctor in Ahmedabad
Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma is rarely staged as these are almost always cured before they spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma usually occurs in the head and the neck regions and is more likely to recur and also spread to other parts of the body.
Melanoma Skin Cancer: Melanoma is the cancer that starts in the melanocytes. These are skin cells that make a deep brown pigment called melanin which is responsible to give the skin its colour. It protects the deep layers of the skin from the effects of the sun and exposure to sun increases the production of melanin making people get tan or get darker.
Are you looking best skin cancer specialist in Ahmedabad? Airavat Cancer Care is top skin cancer hospital. Book an appointment with the best skin cancer doctor in ahmedabad as well as diagnosis at best cancer Hospital.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also develop on palms, beneath fingernails or toenails, and genital area, that hardly see the sunlight.
The symptoms of the skin cancer can depend on the type of skin cancer too. The following are the symptoms of the common types of skin cancer:
- Sores or moles that appear smooth and pearly, look waxy or appear as a firm, red lump
- These may bleed sometimes
- They begin to heal but recurs
- These can be itchy too
- It may develop into a painless ulcer.
- A flat, flesh-coloured or brown scar-like lesion
- Red and scaly patches of the skin that bleed
- Bleeding sores
- A wart-like growth that bleed
- Itching, burning sensation and tenderness in the affected areas
- Changes in size, colour or feel of common (normal) moles
- Bleeding moles
- Brownish spot with dark speckles.
Cause of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer can be caused by a variety of risk factors including age, environment, and genetic predisposition. Most skin cancers are naturally modulated by the immune system or by mutational repair mechanisms. When the immune system is compromised or there is a faulty mutation repair gene, it results in the development of malignant cells which eventually grow into a tumour. The most common risk factors involved in skin cancer are:
- Fair Skin
- Sun Exposure
- Indoor Tanning
- Race/Ethnicity
- Gender and Age
- Inherited Syndrome
- Arsenic Exposure
- Skin cancer history
- Merker Cell Polyomavirus
- Having a lot of moles (50)
- History of Sunburn or Fragile Skin
- Weakened or Suppressed Immune System
Diagnosis of Skin Cancer
Physical examination: The Dermatologist examines the patient’s skin to determine whether the skin changes are likely to cause skin cancer. Further tests and investigations are required to confirm the diagnosis.
- Imaging Tests
- Chest X ray
- CT scan
- PET scan
- MRI
- CT-PET scan
- Blood tests: Blood tests are done to check overall health of patient including marrow, liver, and kidney functions.
- Biopsy: “Dermatologist” removes the suspicious-looking skin for lab testing to determine whether you have skin cancer and, if so, what type of skin cancer it is
The following are the major treatment options available at Airavat Cancer Care Hospital, Ahmedabad for treating skin cancers:
Skin Cancer Treatment
Surgery is the most common and preferred treatment method to cure skin cancer. There are different types of surgeries available to treat skin cancers, the exact type is chosen based on the severity of the condition and the location of the cancer.
Mohs surgery: This procedure is for larger, recurring or difficult-to-treat skin cancers. This procedure allows cancerous cells to be removed without taking an excessive amount of surrounding healthy skin.
In this surgery, doctor removes the skin growth layer by layer, examining each layer under the microscope, until no abnormal cells remain.
Curettage and electrodessication: After removing most of a growth, the doctor scrapes away layers of cancer cells using a device with a circular blade (curet). An electric needle destroys any remaining cancer cells.
Cryosurgery: Early it can be destroyed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen.
Laser surgery:
Excisional surgery: In this type of surgery doctor cuts out (excises) the cancerous tissue and a surrounding margin of healthy skin. A wide excision — removing extra normal skin around the tumor — may be recommended in some cases.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): This treatment destroys skin cancer cells with a combination of laser light and drugs that makes cancer cells sensitive to light.
Chemotherapy For Skin Cancer: Chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body and is used if the skin cancer has metastasized and spread to other organs. It is not the standard treatment for this cancer type though unless the cancer has advanced. The treatment is given in cycles of medication and rest to allow the body to recover and reduce the intensity of side effects.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be an option when cancer can’t be completely removed during surgery.
FAQs
Is there any possibility that skin cancer can heal by itself?
Melanoma on the skin can go away on its own since the body’s immune system can attack the disease. If the disease is small, it might be removed surgically or treated with other treatments.
Who is eligible for the treatment of cancer?
Any person suffering from skin cancer is eligible to receive treatment for the same.
Is skin cancer itchy?
Itching is a common symptom of Skin Cancer which can lead to redness or rashes. It can occur anywhere in the body and may be painless or it may even cause bleeding. Differentiate between itching caused due to irritation, and that of Skin Cancer by taking time to notice patterns, frequency and intensity of the symptom.
Are skin cancer deadly?
Skin cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow in the skin. Skin cancer may be curable if the treatment is started on time. Changes in the skin, including new growths and lesions are precancerous and can get transformed into cancer if left untreated. There are many kinds of cancer that can develop in the skin; among them are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. But melanoma detects as a malignant form with high death-rates due to lack of treatment on time.
