Skin cancer. Melanoma. Risk factors. Early diagnosis. Prevention

Important in the development of skin cancer, melanoma is a combination of various environmental factors: ultraviolet radiation (UV), ionizing radiation, chemical carcinogens (hydrocarbons of oil and coal, arsenic compounds, etc.). The role of certain types of human papillomavirus in the induction of skin cancer is also discussed. The risk of developing skin cancer, melanoma increases in old age, in the presence of immune and genetic disorders. In some cases, skin cancer occurs against the background of scars after radiation therapy, caused by burns and mechanical damage, it may develop on the site of chronic ulcers that do not heal for a long time. An important role in the etiology of melanoma is played by constitutional features: melanoma is more common in blue-eyed blonds or redheads.

What should alert a person to go to the doctor? In almost every case, squamous cell skin cancer occurs against the background of previous lesions: precancerous dermatoses (solar keratosis, late X-ray dermatitis, leukoplakia, etc.); intraepidermal cancer (Cowan's disease, Keir's erythroplasia); foci of scar atrophy in lupus erythematosus, chronic ulcerative pyoderma, trophic ulcers, etc., scars after burns, trauma, osteomyelitis fistulas. Much less often, squamous cell skin cancer occurs de novo (on unaltered skin). Basal cell skin cancer usually develops on unaltered skin. Melanoma often occurs in areas of the skin that "burned" in the sun.

The most common precancerous skin lesion is solar keratosis. It occurs in areas of the skin exposed to solar radiation, mainly in people who work outdoors or abuse sun baths, and is localized mainly on the face, back of the hands, hands and feet, on the lips (especially in smokers); in men with alopecia (baldness) on the scalp. The disease can be considered as the initial stage of squamous cell carcinoma. Solar keratosis is an area of hard keratinized skin or keratinized papule with a diameter of less than 1 cm with uneven edges. With malignancy, inflammatory changes and soreness may occur.

Prevention of skin cancer, melanoma is primarily in the timely detection and active treatment of precancerous dermatoses. It is necessary to remember about the dangerous consequences of insolation (especially for blonds with light skin). It is also important to observe safety regulations in the workplace, where there are carcinogenic substances. Persons employed in such industries should be subjected to systematic preventive medical examinations. Remove moles, birthmarks, warts, horn thickening on the skin is necessary only in specialized medical institutions, in no case can you independently tear, cut, squeeze or lubricate with cauterizing substances (even if you were advised in a pharmacy), tie the base of the birthmark with a thread and generally try to treat at home or with "specialists" who do not have a doctor's degree. After such vigorous self-treatment, it is not uncommon for malignancy to occur, and an innocent wart turns into a malignant tumor. If an ulcer or a crack has appeared on the skin and does not heal within 3 weeks – it is safer to consult an oncologist.

Sun protection is the best way to prevent the development of skin cancer, melanoma. To prevent the damaging effect, it is necessary to reduce the exposure to UV radiation. This is achieved in several ways:

• with clothes;
• wide-brimmed hats protect your face and neck well;
• through sunscreens;
• avoid exposure to the midday sun, especially in tropical and subtropical countries.

In the summer months, you should follow the old rule:

• the time from 11 am to 3 pm is best spent in the shade of trees.

Although the role of sunlight in the occurrence of malignant skin neoplasms is well known, the fear of being exposed to solar radiation should not become obsessive. It should be remembered that most nevi (moles) and warts are not dangerous; if the nevus changes or a new pigment formation appears on the skin, you should consult a doctor – this contributes to the early diagnosis of melanoma; epidermal cancer – basal cell or squamous cell – grows slowly and, as a rule, is treatable. However, squamous cell carcinoma that occurs at the sites of injuries, on the extremities, on trophic ulcers, can metastasize.

In medicine, there is such a concept — "oncological alertness", i.e. a doctor of any specialty of any medical and preventive institution should, when examining each of his patients, exclude symptoms that are suspected of a malignant tumor. The same wariness must be shown by every person in relation to himself.

It may be the opposite situation-often people are simply afraid to go to the doctor, behave like ostriches, which in case of danger simply hide their heads in the sand, while losing precious time. There is a widespread misconception that a diagnosis of cancer is tantamount to a death sentence. This is not true. When detecting early stages of malignant tumors in a person, they can be successfully combated and achieve a stable recovery and complete social and labor rehabilitation of the vast majority of patients. Most cancer patients could be cured if the disease could be diagnosed at the earliest stages of the development of the neoplasm.

Doctor-radiologist of GUZ " Lipetsk regional
cancer dispensary»
Fursova Natalia Viktorovna

#healthy region

Source: http://www.uzalo48.lipetsk.ru/