This yet one of my presentations to the school of Natural scinces in the course unit Camcer Biology and Molecular Oncology. Note: This presentation my not be comprehensive bbut it gives a good overview about skin cancer.

1. Cancer Biology and
Molecular Oncology
BIOC: 262

2. PRESENTATION BY:
MUUNDA MUDEDA
15/BSB/BU/R/0004
LECTURER: MR. S. BAMUTEZE
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3. TOPIC
Discuss skin cancer.
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4. The Skin…
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5. WHAT IS SKIN CANCER?
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6. •Skin cancer is a disease
in which cancer
(malignant) cells are
found in your skin.
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7. Occurrence
• Skin cancer is the most common type of
cancer in the U.S. and accounts for
approximately 50% of all cancers.
• The incidence of skin cancer is greater
than breast, lung, prostate, colon, and
kidney cancers added together.
• Largely preventable
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8. Who is at Risk
• Light skin color, hair color, eye color, freckles
• Genetics
• Certain types of moles
• Long-term sun exposure
• History of childhood sunburns
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9. What Causes Skin Cancer
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main
cause
• Artificially-produced UV radiation
• Chemicals
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10. Types of Skin Cancer
• Pre-Cancerous
oActinic keratosis
• Cancerous
oSquamous cell carcinoma
oBasal cell carcinoma
oMelanoma
oOthers
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11. Actinic Keratosis
• A pre-cancerous condition of thick,
scaly patches of sun-damaged skin.
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12. Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinoma is the
most frequently
diagnosed skin cancer
(2.8 million every year in
U.S.).
• This skin cancer occurs in
heavily sun-exposed
areas of the skin.
• This type of skin cancer
usually appears on the
face, neck, ears, lips, and
nose.
• Basal cell carcinoma
rarely results in death,
but it can spread and
cause more serious health
problems.
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13. Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinomas typically occur as light
pink or flesh-colored bumps with pearly or
waxy appearances.
• They grow slowly and are almost never fatal
but, if neglected, they can grow to the point
where disfiguring surgery is necessary to
remove them.
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14. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common
skin cancer.
• It is more aggressive than basal and can spread to other
parts of the body and may result in death
(approximately 2,500/year).
• Squamous cell carcinoma also tends to occur in the most
heavily sun-exposed areas of the skin.
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15. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinomas often start as flat red
or brown splotches which become rough, dry,
and scaly.
• If not treated, they may eventually grow large
enough to spread to nearby internal organs and
be fatal.
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16. Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Approximately 1
million cases of
basal and
squamous cell
carcinomas are
diagnosed each
year in the U.S.
Good news:
With early
detection and
treatment, basal
and squamous cell
carcinomas have a
cure rate of more
than 95%.
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17. Melanoma
• Malignant melanoma is the most deadly of the
three types of cancer.
• Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of the skin
cancer cases.
• It causes more than 75% of the skin cancer
deaths.
• Melanoma causes about 8,790 deaths each year
in the U.S.
Source: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/
http://www.skincancer.org/
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18. Melanoma
• Melanoma cases are
increasing faster than
any other cancer.
• Melanoma is the most
common cancer among
25-29 year-olds and
second for 15-29 year-
olds.
• Vulnerability to
melanoma begins at
age 12, much earlier
than other skin cancers.
• If not removed early,
while thin, melanoma
often grows rapidly,
spreads to distant
internal organs, and is
fatal.
• It is equally likely to
occur in all areas of the
country.
Source: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/
http://www.skincancer.org/
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19. Ordinary Moles
ORDINARY MOLES have
all of these features:
• Round or oval shape
• Sharp, even borders
with skin
• Uniform color (usually
brown)
• Less than 1/4 inch wide
• Cauliflower or smooth
surface
• Even dome shape if
mole is raised
http://www.skincheck.org/
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20. Atypical Melanoma Moles
http://www.skincheck.org/
ATYPICAL MOLES often
have one or more of these
features:
• Irregular shape
• Uneven and/or fuzzy
borders
with skin
• Two or more shades of
brown
or pink
• 1/4 inch wide or more
• Cauliflower or smooth
surface
• Flat edges with "fried egg"
center if mole is raised 20

21. Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
• Fair skin
• Light hair color
• Family history of
skin cancer
• Blistering sunburn
before the age of 20
• Atypical moles
• Indoor tanning
• Large number of
normal moles
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22. Controllable Risk Factors
Risk Factor Risk Percentage
Intermittent exposure of normally covered skin to
strong sunlight
High
One blistering sunburn under the age of 20 2 times as likely
Three or more blistering sunburns under the age of 20 5 times as likely
One tanning bed session under the age of 30 Almost 2 times as
likely
Ten or more tanning bed sessions in one year under
the age of 30
Almost 8 times as
likely
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23. Warning Signs of Melanoma
Any change in a mole, blemish, freckle, birthmark, or
pigmented area
A new mole or freckle that appears or is growing rapidly,
especially if you don't have many moles, or the new mole or
freckle looks different from those you do have
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24. A mole or other growth that has any of
the ABCD properties:
A = Asymmetry
Radial melanomas are often
unsymmetrical; an
imaginary line through the
middle does not produce
matching halves
B = Border
The borders of radial
melanomas may be uneven,
fuzzy, or have notched or
scalloped edges.
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25. C = Color
Radial melanomas often
begin to show color
changes in areas, with
shades of black, brown,
tan, and sometimes other
colors.
D = Diameter
Unlike normal or atypical
moles, radial melanomas
often grow larger than
the width of a pencil
eraser.
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26. Warning Signs of Melanoma
A change in surface texture or in the way a mole feels to the
touch
A new "freckle" that is dark, dry, or scaly
A pigmented area or splotch that is new or that you don't
remember seeing before
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27. Warning Signs of Melanoma
A new spot that is black, even if very small
A mole or other spot that looks or behaves differently
than those around it, even if it seems otherwise normal
A mole or other spot that itches and/or bleeds
Redness, other color, or shadow extending into the
surrounding skin
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28. How is Skin Cancer
Found?
• Self-examination
• Exams and Doctors visits
• Early detection is KEY
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29. Treatment
• The Physician will:
o Review medical history and perform a physical
o Determine what type of cancer
o Then treat the cancer with:
• topical medication
• laser, freezing, and various surgeries
• radiation and/or chemotherapy
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30. Prevention
• Avoiding Artificial Sun
o Tanning/sun lamps
• Limiting Sun Exposure
• Avoid midday sun
• Apply sunscreens often (at least 30 SPF)
• Use UVA/UVB blocking SUNGLASSES
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31. THE END
Thank you!
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