Types of Skin CancerThere are 3 main types of skin cancer, BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma), SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) and Melanoma. Many other rarer types occur only infrequently.
Basal Cell Carcinoma’s are the most common type of skin cancer and occur predominantly on areas of the body that are commonly exposed to the sun. Whilst they can be locally destructive to body tissues they virtually never spread by the blood or lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
There are a number of sub types of BCC which tend to behave differently and which can be treated successfully in different ways. Superficial Multifocal BCC as the name suggests remain near the surface of the skin, they slowly increase in surface area and only rarely invade into the deeper layers of the skin, usually when neglected for long periods. They often appear as a red scaly area and are sometimes mistaken for a ring worm or patch of dermatitis. These can become quite large and often have multiple foci or satellites of tumor cells. Imiquimod (Aldara) cream which stimulates the immune system to attack the tumor cells has proven to be very effective in the treatment of these cancers. PDT, cryotherapy, curettage as well as surgical excision can also be used for successful treatment.
The other types of BCC (including Nodular, micronodular, inflitrating, and morphoeic) involve the deeper skin layer or dermis and have a greater potential to invade into adjacent tissue. They are generally best treated by surgical excision.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the next most common type of skin cancer. Many of them arise from precancerous lesions called sunspots. They generally grow more rapidly than BCC’s and have a greater potential to spread throughout the body this is especially true of SCC occurring on the lip and some other areas of the head and neck.SCC also has a superficial type which is confined to the epidermis and referred to as “Squamous Cell Carcinoma in situ”, “Intraepidermal Carcinoma” or “Bowens Disease”. These lesions can be treated by cryotherapy and also respond well to Efudix (5FU) Cream and Aldara Cream. Invasive SCC have a risk of spread to the lymph glands, so surgical excision is the best treatment.
Examination of the lymph gland 'fields" is also necessary. If there is any evidence of spread to the lymph glands then these will need to be treated as well, usually by surgical excision by a specialist, somethimes with follow up X ray or radiation therapy.
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer. They arise from the pigment cells of the skin or “melanocytes”. These cancers they have potential to rapidly spread through the body leading to death. About a quater of melanomas arise in an existing mole of pigmented skin spot and the other three quarters appear as a new spot. They are not always black but can be red, pink, flesh colored, even blue or grey. For more information on melanoma go to http://skincancercare.blogspot.com/search/label/Melanoma
