Transcript What is Skin Cancer?

Skin Cancer
By Natalie C., Cami A., and Franco
S.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin Cancer is the result of DNA
becoming damaged. If the body
cannot repair the damage, the
cancers will grow. These damaged
cells begin to grow and divide
uncontrollably.
History of Skin Cancer
• Skin Cancer has not been well recorded in history.
• They have found Peru Mummies with evidences of skin
cancer.
• French physician René Laennec was the first to identify
the cancer.
• Later Scottish anatomist and surgeon John Hunter in
1787 identified as cancerous fungus
Signs and Symptoms
• Skin cancer usually develops in areas exposed to the sun including
face, chest, shoulders, and arms. It can also form in areas not
usually exposed to the sun including palms and beneath finger
nails.
• It may look like a raised, smooth pearly bump or a red thickened
patch on the skin and may have small blood vessels visible.
• When any unusual bumps of moles on the skin is noticed, you
should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
• An environmental factor of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation from
the sun. Being exposed to the sun's rays for long periods of time
can cause skin cancer.
• Skin cancer can also run in families and be passed down.
Environmental Factors & Heredity
Environmental:
•Ultraviolet radiation from the sun
•Being exposed to the sun’s rays for long periods of time can cause
skin cancer
Heredity:
•Skin Cancer can run in families
•It is hard to tell the difference between Environmental and Heredity
•Studies show that it is estimated that genes account for about ½ of
the risk for skin cancer
Statistics
• Basal cell and Squamous cell skin cancers are the
most common types of skin cancer
• Their cure rate is a little over 90% for cases
detected and treated early
• One in five people in the course of their lifetime will
develop some form of skin cancer
• Sun exposure causes more than 90% of all skin
cancers
Dealing With Short Term Cancer
If you find out or believe you may have
skin cancer the most important thing to do
is to consult a physician immediately.
The doctor will recommend the next
course of treatment.
Dealing With Long Term Cancer
•Long term cancer is found when the cancer cells
have not been noticed for a long period of time.
•By this time the cells will have grown to other parts
of the body and deep into the skin.
•You most likely have to have surgery to include
removing the muscle in the area.
Impact on people
• Most people can detect skin cancer in the
earliest stages.
• It usually doesn’t affect how they live but if it
is detected early it can be harmless.
• If skin cancer is not treated early it can grow
deep into the skin and spread throughout
the body.
• People usually live a normal life and just
have to stay out of the sun.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
• Mohs Surgery--a procedure where the
cancerous skin cells are removed layer by
layer
• Simple Excision--Cuts out the tumor and
neighboring skin around it.
• Cryosurgery--treatment that freezes and
destroys abnormal tissue
Role of Diet
Eating a healthy diet can sometimes reduce skin cancer. It is
scientifically proven that it will help reduce you chances of
being diagnosed.
• Have your diet rich in antioxidants
• Eat fish regularly
• Eating Omega-3
• The Mediterranean Diet
Role of Exercise
• Studies have shown that there is a definite link
between skin cancer and exercise.
• Exercise works to kill precancerous cells.
Role of Medicine
Prescription Medicines
•Pills
•Creams
•Prescription
Examples of Prescription Medicines for Skin
Cancer:
• Efudex
• Carac
• Fluorplex
Family Support
• Like in all cases of illness family support can help
heal or at least make the person more comfortable.
• It is good to find out the need of the family member
to help him or her feel better.
• Staying with, cooking for, and caring for the patient
are all ways to help a family member with skin
cancer.
WOW!
• I was surprised that skin cancer can be easily
treated with surgery. I thought that all cancers
were deadly.
• One interesting fact I found was that you can
use prescription medicines to help cure skin
cancer. They may not completely cure the
cancer but they can help prevent it from
spreading.
• I learned that skin cancer can develop in places
on your body not exposed to the sun, like the
palms of your hands
Bibliography
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Bibliography continued
• "What Is Skin Cancer?" SkinCarePhysicians.com. Web. 03 Sept.
2011.http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/whatis.html.
• "Skin Cancer." The Dr. Jan De Winter Cancer Prevention Foundation. Web.
03 Sept. 2011. <http://www.dew-health.org/html/skin_cancer.html>
• "Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection." American Cancer Society ::
Information and
• Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms.
Web. 03 Sept. 2011.
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erPreventionandEarlyDetection/skin-cancer-prevention-and-early-detectionintro
• Merki, Mary Bronson. "Detecting And Treating Cancer." Teen health . New
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