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Informative essay on skin cancer
Research paper about skin cancer
Research essay on skin cancer
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Skin Cancer
It is said that over 9,000 people are diagnosed each year and, as the most common form, skin cancer is a very big issue in our modern society. The most common types of skin cancer are Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. As some people may know, there are many ways that that skin cancer comes to be, is prevented, treated, and eliminated. Most people may know that skin cancer is precipitated by exposure to the sun. Sometimes long overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays or it could be from buildup from many short periods of being in the sun. The mutation of the cells starts due to ultraviolet (UV) rays damaging genetic material (DNA) in our skin. But, not all skin damage is from the sun. Sometimes, using
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Some treatment options include excisional surgery, electrosurgery, radiation, and topical chemotherapy, including many more. Excisional surgery is done by using a scalpel to completely remove a malignant area from the skin and sending the cancerous area to a lab to be tested. The area that is cut off is then stitched to close the wound and prevent infection. Electrosurgery is used for much smaller areas. When doing this, the growth is burned off of the skin by a curette, or a small, round, needle-like instrument. The heat used to burn off the affected area also helps to destroy tumors and prevent bleeding. Although this procedure is very effective, it is cosmetically displeasing because it will leave a deep scars where the cancer used to reside. When performing radiation treatment, x-rays are pointed toward the tumor to eradicate it. This treatment must be administered a few times a week before it will start to kill the cancer cells. Topical chemotherapy means that the cancer patient will have a very powerful drug put directly on their skin to kill cancer cells rather than other forms of chemo where the patient is given either a shot of the drug or ingests the drug. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the most common and effective ingredient in the lotion or ointment used to kill the cancer. It is usually applied to the skin a few times a day for a couple of …show more content…
Cancer Support, www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/skin-cancer/diagnosing/causes-and-risk-factors/potential-causes-of-cancer/causes-risk-factors-skin-cancer.html
“Treatment Options.” Treatment Options - SkinCancer.Org, Skin Cancer Foundation, www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/squamous-cell-carcinoma/scc-treatment-options
. “Local Treatments Other than Surgery for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.” American Cancer Society,
The Cancer Council NSW and NSW Health Department Skin Cancer Prevention Strategic Plan for New South Wales (2001) Gladesville NSW The Cancer Counsil New South Wales and NSW Health Department 2001
Skin cancer is a significant public health issue in Australia. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun in the UVA and UVB wavelengths is the primary cause. Australia has been a world leader in efforts to protect the ozone layer, the main line of defense against ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Ultraviolet radiation induces the formation of thymine dimers that cause mutation of skin cells if not repaired before DNA replication. Mutations of tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Ultraviolet radiation also causes immunosuppresion that allows skin cancers to become established. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are types of skin cancer caused by sun exposure, though each form is associated with a different pattern of exposure. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, due to a combination of tropical latitude, fair-skinned population, outdoor lifestyle, and high amount of ambient ultraviolet radiation. Widespread opinions about tanning and health benefits of sunlight lead many Australians to intentionally overexpose themselves to the sun. State cancer councils have developed sun safety and awareness campaigns, such as “Slip! Slop! Slap!” and “SunSmart,” to educate the population about sun exposure and encourage early detection of skin cancers. Gradual changes in knowledge and behavior indicate that the fight against skin cancer can be won.
...ith photodynamic therapy. Neoplastic tissues would take up compounds of photosensitizing agents, and the interaction of light with the photosensitizing agent eventually leads to the production of cytotoxic free radicles[secret]. The advantages of this treatment is that multiple lesions could be treated even though that could take more than one treatment. However, the downside to this treatment is that it is limited only to neoplasms that are at superficial level. Patients might also acquire side effects such as having photosensitization for around 4-6 weeks, or causing tissues to undergo necrosis which sloughs off after some time.[secret] The latter effect would induce pain in patients.
Cancer is a disease in which cells multiply out of control and gradually build a mass of tissue called a tumor. There has been a large amount of research dedicated to the treatment and cure of cancer. Several types of treatments have been developed. The following are just some of the major examples of cancer therapy: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, biorhythms, unconventional treatments, and hyperthermia. Each type of treatment is discussed in detail below.
Basal Cell Carcinoma often abbreviated as (BCC) is the most frequently appearing form of skin cancer. They are also referred to as Basal Cell Cancer. It was discovered along the way as skin cancer was being treated as different types with no specific period. The BCCs’ are uncontrolled growths that normally arise in the skin’s basal cells. These cells lie in the deepest layer of the epidermis which is the outermost layer of the skin. BCC’s are normally caused by a combination of two things; one is cumulative UV exposure and the other is intense occasional UV exposure. The most vulnerable, according to a research done, tend to be people with fair hair, blue eyes and fair skin and this is because they tend to burn easily. The BCCs’ may first appear as a small white flesh or a colored bump that may bleed. Other normal appearances may look like open sores, red patches on the skin, pink growths, shiny bumps or scars. 80% of Basal Cell Carcinoma cases are mainly found in the head and neck that is the body parts that are mainly exposed to the sun. The nose also tends to be most vulnerable and according to a recent study done, 40% of BCC that were diagnosed on the head and neck were adjacent to the nose.
...til the area is clear of any sign of the cancer cells. Another method is cryotherapy: the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the lesion and/or tumor. However, the use of cryotherapy has a rate of recurrence of about two years. The key to curing squamous cell carcinoma is early detection before any metastasis.
Sun shine contain ultraviolet ray which can cause the sunburn or even skin cancer. According to Cancer Council in Australia, Australia has highest incident rate of skin cancer in the world. More than 430000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. There are approximately 60 percent of people who have got skin cancer will survive greater than five years after they diagnosis (Cancer Council Australia, 2014). In order to protect people under the sun, the sun protective behaviour is significant necessary.
Over all, skin cancer is known to be a very common and dangerous cancer among the U.S.. Although there is no superior or particular cause known for it, it can be reduced by reducing radiation exposure from the sun and also tanning booths and beds. If not attempting to prevent it by staying out of the sun, and seeking not seeking shade and so forth, protection such as longer clothing garments that better cover the body as well as hats and sunglasses can help to eliminate direct exposure and reduce some of the damages that may occur. Certain amounts of sun light are healthy for the body as it provides vitamin- D which the body needs to maintain a healthy life style, though it is crucial not be over exposed as reverse side affects may occur, causing more harm than good.
For cancer patients there are several treatment options. Surgery can remove cancerous tumors, chemotherapy uses drugs for treatment, and radiation therapy. The doctor in charge of the patient’s treatment may also choose to use radiation therapy. “Radiation
Most forms of skin cancer are found on areas of the body that experience constant exposure to sunlight. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight are one main cause of skin cancer, but artificial sources of UV rays have also been proven to be a contributing factor.
UV radiation causes significant damage to human skin, in the form of sunburns, aging, skin cancer, and nonmelanoma tumors. Human skin damage is primarily a result of tanning. The
Treatment methods include enucleation, external beam radiation, and chemo reduction. Enucleation, the most common process, is simply the removal of the eye.
Skin Cancer is caused by hereditary factors, overexposure to the sun, and weak immune systems. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) One reason people tend to get skin cancer is when someone in your family has passed their genes down to you, known as hereditary. Normally hereditary is one of the causes in the development of melanoma. For all types of skin cancers, overexposure of the skin to UV radiation in sunlight is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. “Research suggests that sunburns received early in one’s childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life” (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com). For example, when someone gets sunburned, you usually don’t know till ten to twenty years after and that’s why people don’t get skin cancer till they reach their twenties.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it isn’t surprising that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, affecting 4% of all cases but causing 79% of skin cancer deaths. The average age of people diagnosed with Melanoma is between 45 and 55, although 25% of cases occur in people under 40. About 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of melanoma. You are at increased risk of developing melanoma if there is a family history of melanoma in one or more of your first-degree relatives like a parent, child, brother or sister.
The high incidence of skin cancer in Australia is the reason for our choice of