Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer Treatment in Charlotte


Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. More than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Yet it’s also one of the most treatable forms of cancer. With early detection and proper care, even melanoma has a five-year survival rate in the high 90 percentiles. Download our Skin Cancer Self-Exam Checklist as a first step if you have concerns about skin cancer.

Considering the importance of early detection, it’s crucial to understand what skin cancer is, what it looks like, and what you need to do if you suspect that you may be at risk.

25%
25% of people in the United States will be diagnosed with skin cancer before age 70
1.5M
1.5 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year
90%
90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with UV radiation exposure
178K
Over 178,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US this year

What is Skin Cancer?

Melanoma on skin

Skin cancer is characterized by abnormal, excessive growth of skin cells in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). It occurs most often on areas of skin that are frequently exposed to the sun. However, skin cancer can affect any area of skin on the body.

Common Types of Skin Cancers

Each type of skin cancer is named for the type of cells where the cancer begins. There are three major types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Named for the cells in the bottom layer of the epidermis, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer tumor. It is the least dangerous of the three common types. Because they grow very slowly, it is rare for BCC to spread or metastasize.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

Named for the cells that are in the middle layer of your skin, squamous cell carcinoma is less common but more dangerous. If left untreated, squamous cell carcinomas may cause significant disfigurement. Although squamous cell carcinomas may spread to other parts of your body, they are rarely fatal when treated promptly.

Melanoma

Melanoma is named for the melanocyte cells that create the pigment that gives skin its color. This is the rarest of the three main types of skin cancer, but it is the most likely to spread to other parts of your body. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and can be fatal.

Types of skin cancer infographic

Rare Skin Cancers

While most skin cancers fall into one of the three categories above, there are other, more rare skin cancers. These include:

Merkel cell carcinoma

This rare cancer is named for the cells which give the skin its sense of touch. It is more common in those over 50 with a compromised immune system. It usually occurs on areas like the face and scalp.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS)

This cancer occurs most often in those with a compromised immune system, especially patients with HIV. It is caused by human herpesvirus 8 and may occur as tumors or lesions on the skin. Another type of Kaposi’s sarcoma occurs in older men of Eastern European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent. Known as classic Kaposi’s sarcoma, this cancer progresses slowly and typically causes few serious problems.

Lymphoma of the skin

A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, this usually occurs in the lymph nodes and may appear as a rash.

Actinic keratosis

These pre-cancerous growths can grow into squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated. They are the result of UV radiation damage.

Sebaceous gland carcinoma

This very rare cancer is named for the oil glands of the skin in which it occurs. It most often occurs in women over 70 around the eyes.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)

This is another rare cancer that occurs in the middle layer of the skin. It may appear as a hard bump that does not grow or spread.

Keratoacanthoma (KA)

KA’s are common, rapidly growing, locally destructive skin tumours.  KAs may regress spontaneously with scarring, but clinically they may be indistinguishable from well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the clinical course may be unpredictable. Thus, many clinicians and pathologists prefer the term SCC, KA-type, and recommend surgical excision.

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer

Warning signs of skin cancer can include:

  • Translucent or shiny bump
  • Itchy, raised patch of skin
  • Open sores that do not heal
  • Wart-like growth
  • Scaly red patches
  • Mole larger than 6mm
  • Skin that oozes or bleeds easily

To identify skin cancer early, it’s important to regularly check the skin. Look for new or abnormal growths, as well as any changes in the size, shape, or color of moles or skin growths. Skin cancer is most likely to occur in areas exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, arms, legs, and trunk. However, it can occur anywhere, so do not overlook other areas of the skin.

ABCDE of moles graphic for spotting skin cancer

How Does Someone Get Skin Cancer?

Cancer forms when the DNA in your skin cells becomes damaged. As those cancer cells grow and spread, they can metastasize, or affect other areas of the body.

Skin cancer is the typical result of one of three causes:

  • Exposure to harmful substances, such as UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds
  • Genetic mutations inherited from your parents
  • Random defects in the cell reproduction process
UVA and UVB Rays and the effect on skin

Scientists believe that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is felt to be the cause of the majority of skin cancer cases. UV radiation is another name for the light and heat created by the sun or indoor tanning lamps.

Exposure to the sun or tanning lamps increases the risk of all types of skin cancer. People who experience prolonged exposure to UV radiation during childhood, particularly if they experience severe sunburns, are thought to be more likely to develop melanomas and basal cell carcinomas later in life.

library_books

Who Is Most Likely to Develop Skin Cancer?

Some people are more likely to develop skin cancer than others. Doctors have collected and studied data about the genetic characteristics, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices of skin cancer patients over many years. This has allowed them to identify certain factors that are common among people who have developed the disease.

While some of these factors have not been proven to cause skin cancer, each has a correlation with a significant number of people with skin cancer.

Genetic risk factors of skin cancer:

  • Fair or light skin color
  • A family history of skin cancer
  • A personal history of skin cancer
  • Skin that burns or becomes painful in the sun
  • Skin that reddens or becomes freckled in the sun
  • Blue or green eyes
  • Blond or red hair
  • Tendency to develop abnormal moles

Environmental risk factors of skin cancer:

  • A history of severe sunburns, especially during childhood or adolescence
  • Excessive sun exposure, even if the skin does not blister
  • Tanning, either indoor or outdoor
  • Living at high altitude climates
  • Living in warm, sunny climates
  • Exposure to certain chemicals, such as coal tar, arsenic, and paraffin
  • Exposure to radiation
  • A weakened immune system

Skin Cancer Diagnosis

If you suspect you may have developed skin cancer, you should schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. The sooner you diagnose your skin cancer, the less invasive the treatment will be and the better your prognosis.

Skin Examination

Your doctor will first visually examine your skin. Depending on the appearance, texture, and other factors, your doctor will decide if further testing is necessary.

Skin Biopsy

If your doctor suspects you have skin cancer, they will likely perform a biopsy. In a biopsy, your doctor removes the affected skin for testing. Testing will indicate if the skin is cancerous and, if so, what kind of cancer it is.

Additional Testing

If the skin is cancerous, the biopsy may be treatment enough. However, with certain cancers, such as Merkel cell carcinoma or melanoma, your doctor may recommend further testing to determine its stage.

Skin Cancer Stages

Doctors use stages to understand the extent of the cancer. Staging helps your care team to understand where your cancer is and how it has spread, how they should treat it, and the prognosis.

The stages of skin cancer range from zero to four. The more the cancer has spread, the higher the number. Stage zero indicates abnormal cells that may turn into cancer. With stage four cancer, on the other hand, the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

stages of Melanoma infographic

Skin cancers are rarely assigned stages because they are usually treated before they spread. This is almost always the case with basal cell skin cancer and usually the case with squamous cell skin cancer.

However, there are exceptions. When squamous or basal cell skin cancers are staged, the following scale is used:

fiber_manual_record

Stage 0

Cancerous cells appear in the upper layer of skin (epidermis) only.

fiber_manual_record

Stage 1

The tumor is small in size (two centimeters or fewer) and has not spread. It also has zero or one high-risk feature.

fiber_manual_record

Stage 2

The tumor measures two to four centimeters and has not spread. Alternatively, if the tumor has two high-risk features or more, it may be any size.

fiber_manual_record

Stage 3

The tumor measures four centimeters or larger and has spread to the deepest layer of the skin, the bone, or a lymph node.

fiber_manual_record

Stage 4

The tumor has spread to the bone, bone marrow, other organs, or lymph nodes that are three centimeters or larger.

Charlotte Skin Cancer Treatment Options

Of the three common cancer treatment options, your cancer team may recommend one or more of the following.

Radiation

Radiation therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer is an effective alternative to surgery. This type of treatment has minimal side effects or scarring and heals quickly.

Surgery

Surgery is a common skin cancer treatment. Several factors will determine if surgery is the best treatment, including where the cancer is, skin cancer type, and its size.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy may be used to treat advanced stages of melanoma. This type of treatment is usually not the first choice of treatment for this or other types of skin cancer.

Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer in Charlotte

Radiation therapy is considered an effective cancer treatment for most non-melanoma skin cancer, including basal cell and squamous cell cancers.

Radiation therapy works by directing forms of radiation, including X-rays or electrons, onto the areas of the skin affected by cancer. This type of radiation is emitted from a machine positioned outside the body. The radiation doesn’t penetrate very deep beneath the skin.

radiation therapy in progress

According to the American Cancer Society, radiation is effective enough to be considered a cure for most small basal and squamous cell skin cancers.

It may be recommended as the primary type of cancer treatment in cases in which the skin cancer covers a large area.

It is also recommended when the cancer is in a hard-to-reach area that would be difficult to treat with surgery.

In advanced skin cancer cases, radiation therapy may prevent or slow the growth of tumors.

It may also be used after surgery as an additional (adjuvant) treatment to kill remaining cancer cells.

Radiation therapy is also an option for those who have skin cancer that’s spread to their lymph nodes or other areas of the body.

library_books

Skin Cancer Screening

You should visit a dermatologist annually for a full-body skin cancer screening. This is of particular importance if you identify with any of the risk factors outlined above.

However, you can—and should—screen for skin cancer at home even more regularly. A skin cancer self-exam involves self-examining your skin for any changes, abnormal marks or moles, and other indicators of skin cancer.

If you do notice any changes or abnormal areas of your skin during a screening at home, you should schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.

Regular screenings, both at home and at your dermatologist, are vital for skin health. Doing so allows for effective treatment of any skin cancer that may develop before it spreads.

normal mole vs atypical mole infographic

Expert Cancer Care in the Charlotte Metro Region

If you’re interested in radiation therapy as a method for skin cancer treatment, contact the board-certified physicians at SERO today. With cancer treatment centers in Charlotte, NC and surrounding locations, we are proud to serve individuals from across the Southeast.

file_download

Download Our Free Skin Cancer eBook to Learn What You Need to Know

Do you want to learn everything you need to know about skin cancer:  What to expect, how do you treat it, and how it will affect your life?  Download our free eBook today and get your questions answered.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FAQs: Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer

Which is worse, basal cell or squamous cell cancer?

Squamous cell cancer is generally considered more serious than basal cell cancer, though this largely depends on the clinical situation. This is because squamous cells are more likely to spread throughout the body and grow into deeper layers of the skin. Basal cell cancer can spread, too, but that is rare. If basal cell cancer does spread, it tends to spread much more slowly. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are the most common skin cancers, with basal cell cancer accounting for at least 90% of all skin cancers in the United States. Collectively, these are called non-melanoma skin cancers.

What is the best treatment for squamous cell carcinoma?

The best treatment for squamous cell carcinoma depends on several factors, including the patient’s age, medical history, overall health, and the stage, size, and severity of the squamous cell skin cancer. It also depends on the location and whether the cancer has spread into the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. If squamous cell carcinomas cover a large area of the skin or are in areas on the skin that may be difficult to access through surgery, radiation may be the best cancer treatment. Radiation therapy is also considered the best treatment for squamous cell carcinoma for people with risk factors that make them more likely to have surgical complications, such as advanced age or obesity, or suffer from significant cosmetic changes as a result of surgery.

What's the best skincare following radiation therapy?

The goal of radiation therapy for skin cancer treatment is to destroy cancerous cells while sparing surrounding healthy skin tissue. However, sometimes even healthy skin can become temporarily irritated as a result of the treatment. Doctors recommend several methods for patients to take care of their skin while they are undergoing radiation therapy. These include:

  • Gently wash the skin with warm water and mild soap, then gently pat dry (don’t rub).
  • Avoid the use of perfumes, powders, cosmetics, tape, after-shaves, deodorants, creams, or lotions on areas of the skin receiving radiation.
  • Wear loose and lightweight clothing.
  • Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures on the skin.
  • Protect the skin from direct sunlight. When radiation treatment is over, patients need to use sunscreen on treated areas for the rest of their lives. These areas will be more sensitive to the sun and more likely to burn.
  • Use electric razors to carefully shave hair in the treatment area.
  • Eat a nutritious diet and stay well-hydrated. Eat a nutritious diet and stay well-hydrated.
file_downloadFree download

Lung Cancer eBook

Download our guide to to help you identify & track potential lung cancer symptoms.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.