Skin cancer is when malignant cells form in the tissues squamous cells. Both these cancers usually occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin, but basal cell cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell cancer can occur in areas that have not been sun damaged, and sometimes spreads. Melanoma is a much rarer but deadlier form of skin cancer, as it is more likely to spread elsewhere in the body. Melanoma affects melanocytes, cells that are found in the lower part of the epidermis and make the pigment that colors our skin. According to the American Cancer Society, the “ABCD” rule is a useful melanoma-warning tool. Call a doctor if you find a mole showing one or more of these signs: A for asymmetry (two halves 56 South Bay Accent SKIN CANCER 101 of a mole not matching): B for border irregularity (ragged or blurred edges); C for color (variable colors of pigmentation); and D for diameter (greater than the size of a pencil eraser). But patients may find it difficult to diagnose their own condition. Lynne Greene has been treated for five basal cell carcinomas, and gets checked out by a dermatologist three times a year. “I’ve found that you can’t really recognize cancer on yourself,” she says. “They say watch for if it changes color, shape or gets crusty, but I never had anything like that.” Now out on the market are mobile apps, which claim to help you detect skin cancer by letting you take photos and analyze moles. But while apps might be helpful to chronicle your skin’s developments, El Camino Hospital’s Dr. Shyamali Mallick Singhal warns of their limitations: “If, like a self-breast exam, every month you take a picture of your skin, that’s all good data. But you still need to go to a dermatologist. Dr. Google can only do so much.” If an area looks suspicious, a doctor performs a biopsy to check for cancer. In less serious cases, the affected area typically is cut or of the skin, and the two most common and easiest-to-treat varieties are basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that make up the outer part of the epidermis, which is the top layer of skin. Basal cells are round and lie under ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, THE “ABCD” RULE IS A USEFUL MELANOMA-WARNING TOOL.
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2015
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