Quick Facts Basal And Squamous Cell Skin Cancer

Covers aspects of basal and squamous cell skin cancer, from what the risk factors are to the benefits of early diagnosis to living healthily after treatment. Questions to ask a health care team are provided, as is a dictionary of cancer-related terms.

Covers aspects of basal and squamous cell skin cancer, from what the risk factors are to the benefits of early diagnosis to living healthily after treatment. Questions to ask a health care team are provided, as is a dictionary of cancer-related terms.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery, an advanced treatment procedure for skin cancer, offers the highest potential for recovery--even if the skin cancer has been previously treated. This procedure is a state-of-the-art treatment in which the physician serves as surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon. It relies on the accuracy of a microscope to trace and ensure removal of skin cancer down to its roots. This procedure allows dermatologists trained in Mohs Surgery to see beyond the visible disease and to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This procedure is most often used in treating two of the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The cure rate for Mohs Micrographic Surgery is the highest of all treatments for skin cancer--up to 99 percent even if other forms of treatment have failed. This procedure, the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, minimizes the chance of regrowth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement

Skin cancer is both preventable and treatable, yet it is becoming alarmingly common. The key to successful treatment (other than education and prevention) is early recognition and swift referral. 'Fast Facts: Skin Cancer' has been written by three international experts to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to save lives. Highlights include: • Expert presentation of the basic facts on epidemiology, causation, presentation and management • Over 100 color illustrations to assist with the identification of at-risk individuals and early lesions • Pull-out tables of cancer staging for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma • Advice to give patients on self-examination • A thorough overview of all treatment options: topical therapies, cryotherapy, curettage and electrosurgery, photodynamic therapy and lasers, radiotherapy, surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery • Discussion of preventive measures This fully updated second edition is a practical evidence-based resource, written from an international perspective to reflect national and international guidelines. It will assist clinical practice, education, training, audit and research, and is essential reading for generalists and specialists alike. Contents: • Epidemiology • Pathogenesis • Clinical features and diagnosis • Management • Prognosis • Prevention; Future trends

'Fast Facts: Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma' is for people who have or may have advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. It aims to help patients, and people close to them, understand the condition so they can have better discussions with the cancer team. Decisions about treatment and next steps are highly individual. They will depend on the site and features of the person’s cancer as well as their general health. With its clear text and diagrams, this booklet can help the patient understand how the cancer develops and the tests and treatments that may be recommended. And with boxes and prompts for the reader’s own notes and questions, 'Fast Facts: Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma' can become a truly personalized resource. Contents: • What is cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma? • What is advanced cSCC? • Metastatic cSCC • Diagnosis • Additional biopsies • Staging • Surgery • Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) • Systemic treatment • Questions to ask your doctor about your treatment • What can I do to help myself? • Palliative care • Research • Asking questions • Useful resources

Non-melanoma skin cancer is a global public health issue. With an ever-increasing, and ageing, world population coupled with increasing numbers of immunosuppressed individuals the number of patients continues to rise. The head and neck is overwhelmingly the most frequent location for the development of a non-melanoma skin cancer and as such challenges the clinician with its complex anatomy. The importance of maintaining the aesthetics of the face and the function of the anatomy cannot be overstated, yet ultimately it is always the aim of curing a patient with the minimum of morbidity that clinicians strive for. However, the spectrum of presentations and subsequent management varies widely, ranging from patients with the ubiquitous low-risk mid-face basal cell carcinoma to those diagnosed with relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening high-risk squamous cell carcinomas (e.g. involving metastatic lymph nodes or with perineural invasion present) and Merkel cell carcinomas.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet most cases are preventable. Every year in the United States, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer, at an estimated cost of $8.1 billion. Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, causes nearly 9,000 deaths each year. Despite recent efforts to address risk factors, skin cancer rates continue to rise. While those with lighter skin are more susceptible, anyone can get skin cancer—and it can be serious, even deadly. Almost all of the conditions can be caused by unnecessary ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, usually from excessive time in the sun or from the use of indoor tanning devices. It is alarming that every year, nearly one out of every three young white women aged 16–25 engages in indoor tanning. It's important to shatter the myth that tanned skin is a sign of health. And a “base” tan is not a “safe” tan. Tanned skin is damaged skin. Understanding the risk of UV exposure is crucial to protecting ourselves and our loved ones. That is why “The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer” is important for all of us. It outlines action steps we can all take—as individuals, parents, educators, employers, policy makers, health care professionals, and communities—to reverse this alarming trend. As a nation, we can all do more to address skin cancer as a serious public health challenge. Everyone is urged to find out more about the risk of skin cancer—and what we all can do to prevent it.