Skin Cancer

By: Alyssa, Laney, Dee, and

Chris

Page 3- DefinitionPage 4- Signs and SymptomsPage 5- Treating/Managing the ProblemPage 6- Treating/Managing the ProblemPage 7- Treating/Managing the ProblemPage 8- Treating/Managing the ProblemPage 9- Treating/Managing the ProblemPage 10- What I LearnedPage 11- Resources

Table of Contents

a. Identify/define topic: Uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells on the skin

b. History/origin of item: Ancient Egyptians were aware 4000 years ago Greeks were first to try and uncover the cause for

skin cancer In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, oncology

and advances in technology allowed people to discover the three kinds of skin cancer

Definition

a.    Specific examples: For Basal cell carcinoma :  White pearly, waxy bump or a flat

flesh- colored or brown scar-like lesion Squamous cell Carcinoma- a firm red nodule or a flat lesions

with a scaly crusty surface Melanoma: large brownish spot with darker spots, a mole that

changes color, size or feel, or that bleeds.b.    How long they should last before concern: When skin changes.  Do not wait; see a doctor as soon as possiblec.    Genetic, hereditary or environmental factors:

Environmental factors: the sun, exposure to asbestos, benzene

Genetic Hereditary Factors:  if one or both of your parents have had a skin cancer, you could be at risk, especially as you are likely to have the same skin type as them

Signs and Symptoms

a. Treatment: Chemotherapy- the main treatment and therapy for in

general cancer but can be used for specifically skin cancer

Radiation therapy- Shrinks tumors, and eliminates some symptoms (cancer-related) by using energy to kill cancer cells targeted on your body.

Surgery- Gets rid of symptoms like tumors, pain, etc. (oldest form of cancer treatment)

b. Role of Diet: Eat healthy and have a lot of antioxidants. Damaged

free radicals can cause cancer and antioxidants can protect cells from free radicals. (blueberries, coffee, tea, pomegranates)

Treating/Managing the Problem

c. Role of Exercise: Talk to your health care providers; you may not

want to exercise because of side effects of chemo

d. Role of Medicine: it is to help relieve you of your symptoms and

helps destroy cancer cellse. Role of Family Support Given: •get them to get therapy and treatment at a hospital and supporting

Treating/Managing the Problem Continued…

f. Management of problem short-term: staying out of sun for a little bit removal of cancer radiation/ chemo (could be long-term)g. Management of problem long-term: staying out of the sun eating antioxidants (things that have it are:

spinach, blueberries, tea, garlic, coffee, pomegranates)

Treating/Managing the Problem Continued…

h. Impact on the individual and family: Can’t travel far away from doctor Need extra support and attention both individual and family depressioni. Impact on the family: Costly treatments, and individual probably won’t be working so they might have financial problems

Treating/Managing the Problem Continued…

In 2007 58,094 people in the United States were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin (33,041 men and 25,053 women)

More than 1 million cases diagnosed annually 40% to 50% of 65 year olds will have skin cancer

at least once.

Treating/Managing the Problem (j. Statistics integrated into the data)

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually

Over the past 31 years, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime

The vast majority of mutations found in melanoma are caused by ultraviolet radiation

Survival with melanoma: 49% (1950–1954) 92% (1996–2003)

What I Learned

o http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=symptoms

o http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=causes

o http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/a/causesrisks.htmo http://www.skincancerresource.com/a-short-history-of-skin-can

cer.htmlo http://www.cancercenter.com/search.cfm?q=skin+cancer o http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/antio

xidants

o http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts/#generalo Glencoe Health textbook, Mary H. Bronson, PhD, pages 696-

697

Resources