Skin Cancer
destroying your skin one cell at a time
By Noah Davis and Joshua Smith
the death of skin cells
What causes Skin Cancer?
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
-symptoms-
A - Asymmetrical
- A - Asymmetrical. If you can draw a line straight through a benign mole it is healthy. If the sides are not symmetrical, then that is one indication of the presence of melanoma
- Image Source: http://www.skincancer.org/Media/Default/Page/skin-cancer-information/Melanoma/a.jpg
B - Border
- B - Border. Another indication for the presence of melanoma is whether or not the sides are smooth or rough. When the sides are rough that is an indication of Melanoma
- Image Source: http://www.skincancer.org/Media/Default/Page/skin-cancer-information/Melanoma/b.jpg
C - Color
- C - Color. Benign moles are usually one shade of brown. Diversity in color is an indication of melanoma. usually melanoma moles are brown, black, tan, and sometimes red, white, or blue.
- Image Source: http://www.skincancer.org/Media/Default/Page/skin-cancer-information/Melanoma/c.jpg
D - Diameter
- D - Diameter Melanomas moles are mainly larger than Benign moles. If the moles are bigger than 6 mm that is an indication it might be melanoma, although they may appear to be smaller at the beginning.
- Image Source: http://www.skincancer.org/Media/Default/Page/skin-cancer-information/Melanoma/a.jpg
E - Evolving
- E - Evolving. The last indication of melanoma is if it begins to evolve. The process of evolving includes, but is not limited to the following changes in formation, height, or color. They can also start to become irritated, bleed or scabbed over.
- Image Source: http://www.skincancer.org/Media/Default/Page/skin-cancer-information/Melanoma/a.jpg
treatment (clinical staging)
- Early detection and self monitoring of the skin is the leading way to have a successful treatment plan.
- depending on the size, color and depth of the mole will determine the course and length of treatment needed
- skin cancer is classified in six different stages these are determined by the depth of the mole into the epidermis
- Stage 1a is 0.75 mm or less
- Stage 1b is 0.75–1.5 mm
- Stage 2a is 1.5–4.0 mm
- Stage 2b is over 4.0 mm or into the fat layer of our skin
- Stage 3 is when the cancer is in our lymph nodes
- Stage 4 is when the cancer has effected other parts our body, not just the skin
- Surgical removal of the mole and surrounding tissues is used for Stages 1 - 3
- chemotherapy is used for stage 4
How common is Skin Cancer?
Work Cited
Vogan, Kyle. "Pigmentation and skin-cancer risk." Nature Reviews Genetics 9.7 (2008). Science in Context. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
Swetter, Susan M., and Alan C. Geller. "Catch melanoma early: the United States and other nations should follow Germany in routine skin screening." Nature 515.7527 (2014): S117. Science in Context. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
Willyard, Cassandra. "Riddle of the rays: spending time in the sun is a major risk factor for melanoma, but the relationship is not as straightforward as it seems." Nature 515.7527 (2014): S112+. Science in Context. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
Seaman, Andrew M. "Screening finds skin cancer, but does it save lives?" Reuters Health Medical News26 May 2012. Science in Context. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
Wills, Mary. "Skin Cancer Screening. (Case Report)." Physical Therapy Dec. 2002: 1232+. Science in Context. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_5zSEDVFbf29_9m_VjeHDP1I4GtVLPa2T_JCbxUqoz0/edit?usp=sharing
Noah's works cited
- McCartney, Richard A., Ken R. Wells, and Rebecca J. Frey. "Melanoma." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2015. Science in Context. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uz0IJCY8AHnTIzzjDlJbAMERKCwzBrWtVLP7Rw8ghoQ/edit?usp=sharing