Types of Tumors and Skin Cancer

Benign tumor

• Not cancerous.
• Cells resemble the original tissue.
• Do not spread to other tissues or parts of the body.
• Can be removed without growing back.
• Non-life threatening.

Malignant tumor

• Cancerous tumors
• Cells less developed than those of the original tissue
• Can spread to other tissues through the blood and lymph systems – a process known as metastasis
• As the tumor develops, it will often recruit blood vessels to bring nutrients to the rapidly growing and dividing cells
• Usually can be removed, but can grow back (recurrence)
• Can be life threatening

SKIN CANCER

Skin cancer can occur on any surface of the skin, however it usually appears on areas that are most often exposed to the sun.

• Head – especially the scalp
• Face – especially the forehead, nose, lower lip and ear
• Back – especially the neck and shoulders
• Hands
  

Actinic keratosis (or soloar keratosis)

• A form of pre-cancer
• If untreated, can lead to squamous cell carcinoma
• Characteristics
• Scaly or crusty bump on the skin surface
• Dry, rough, slightly raised growth
• Growths can be brown to red, or skin-colored

Basal cell carcinoma

• Develops from basal cells
• Most common form of skin cancer in light-skinned people
• Rarely found in dark-skinned people
• Grows slowly
• Does not usually spread to other tissues or organs
• Most can be cured
• Can invade and destroy nearby tissue if left untreated
• Characteristics:
• Open sore that bleeds and crusts over continuously and won’t heal
• Red patch that bleeds easily
• Shiny translucent bump, usually with indentation in middle
• Pink growth
• Scar-like area

Squamous cell carcinoma

• Develops from the cells in the epidermis, sometimes in the mucous membranes around cells
• Second most common form of skin cancer found in light-skinned people
• Can be found in dark-skinned people, usually as a result of preexisting skin damage
• Grows slowly, but can grow to large masses
• Does not usually spread to other tissues or organs, but may spread to lymph nodes
• Most can be cured
• Can invade and destroy nearby tissue if left untreated
• Characteristics:
• Firm red bump
• Patch or growth of skin that feels scaly, bleeds, or develops a crust
• Sore that won’t heal

Melanoma

• Develops from melanocytes – in many cases from moles
• Most serious form of skin cancer largely because it spreads easily to other parts of the body.
• Melanomas that have not invaded other tissues are least threatening
• Melanomas that have invaded deeper layers of the skin are more threatening, and more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
• When melanoma metastatizes, it can be found in lymph nodes and other parts of the body. This stage is more difficult to treat and can lead to a fatal condition.
• Characteristics:
• Mostly brown or black with abnormal shape
• Patch with abnormal borders, asymmetric shape and/or uneven coloration
• Mole that changes in size, shape and/or color