Skin cancer

Skin cancer means that malignant tumors grow on the skin. Doctors divide the disease into two types, which differ in appearance, causes, and aggressiveness. Depending on whether it is black skin cancer or white skin cancer , different symptoms appear.

Signs of white skin cancer

This variant is also known as light skin cancer and is the most common type of skin cancer worldwide. It is so called because its color usually hardly stands out from the skin. There are three sub-categories : In the form of a semi-malignant basalioma (also: basal cell carcinoma) it does not spread, that is, it hardly ever develops daughter tumors. However, it can attack surrounding bones, cartilage and tissue.

Basal cell carcinoma comes in various forms. They are often yellowish-reddish nodules with blood vessels shimmering through their surface.

In addition to this most common form of white skin cancer, there is also spinal or squamous cell carcinoma . It is malignant and occurs mostly on the face - especially common from the age of 70. An early form of this is actinic keratosis , in which the horny cells of the top layer of the skin multiply in an uncontrolled manner. The skin of the affected areas turns red in this type of skin cancer.

The preliminary stage of squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis , usually consists of reddish or skin-colored rough spots at the beginning . They arise in places that are exposed to the sun, which is why this preliminary stage of skin cancer often occurs on the scalp, for example on the bald head or on the back of the hand. Later, when squamous cell carcinoma develops, a skin cancer that often occurs on the face, nodular keratinized tumors grow.

Signs of black skin cancer

This type of skin cancer is also called malignant melanoma. It usually shows up as dark spots and is the most malicious form of skin cancer.

Every third malignant melanoma is based on a birthmark . If it gets bigger, darker or has different pigmentation, this can be a sign of skin cancer. The birthmark can itch in skin cancer. Sometimes a skin cancer-altered mole bleeds or wets. However, it often does not cause any discomfort at all.

Black skin cancer manifests itself in the most varied of " spots " forms“: They can be flat, raised or cauliflower-like. However, to conclude from the size or freedom from symptoms that a melanoma is harmless would be fatal: the cancer can nevertheless have already formed daughter tumors. Cancer cells migrate into the whole body via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and form metastases there. Detecting black skin cancer early on can save lives.

Black skin cancer usually occurs on the back in men and on the lower legs in women. Every year around 21,000 people in this country develop malignant melanoma.

In children this cancer is rare, according to overlook them easily, when they do occur. Parents should be attentive to changes in the skin and, to be on the safe side, go to the dermatologist with the child.

 

Skin cancer diagnosis: this is what the doctor does

With preventive skin cancer screening as well as with suspected skin cancer, the doctor will first get an idea of the patient's general state of health, medical history and possible cancer cases in the family in a conversation with the patient (anamnesis).

During the screening, however, the doctor first takes a close look at the skin in general, during the specific skin cancer examination the doctor takes a sample of the suspicious skin tissue and gives these cells for a microscopic examination ( biopsy ) to confirm that it is skin cancer.

If there is skin cancer, the doctor will do additional tests. These include blood tests and imaging processes such as x-rays , magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography . This allows the doctor to see whether the cancer has already spread.

Skin cancer: causes and risk factors

In addition to hereditary predisposition, the sun is the main cause of both white and black skin cancer. More precisely: the UV exposure . Light skin and strong UV exposure often lead to basal cell carcinoma ; this skin cancer usually grows on the head or neck area.

A squamous cell carcinoma developed primarily to strong sun-damaged skin, experts assume that here the whole time, which was an interested party about the course of his life away in the sun, is crucial. People with a weakened immune system or fair skin type are also more susceptible to this type of skin cancer, which occurs most frequently on the face, scalp (preliminary stage) and other areas exposed to the sun.

Black skin cancer is probably the result of strong UV exposure with multiple sunburns - especially in childhood. The more mole a person has, the higher the risk of developing black skin cancer, as many malignant melanomas arise from birthmarks. Hereditary predisposition also plays a role.

Skin Cancer Treatment: Options and Effectiveness

White skin cancer is treated somewhat differently than black skin cancer. But you need to get both of them treated - preferably as soon as possible to prevent the cancer from spreading. In the case of malignant tumors, this can be fatal.

Treatment for white skin cancer

The doctor surgically and completely removes basal cell carcinomas . If this is not possible due to the type of tumor or the patient's condition, non-surgical procedures such as radiation therapy , scraping (curettage) or cold treatments (cryotherapy) can also be used. Here, however, it is difficult to check whether the tumor tissue has actually been completely removed. Therapy with creams or tablets is also possible. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.

There actinic keratoses- the precursor to white skin cancer that manifests itself red - which becomes dangerous squamous cell carcinoma in ten percent of the cases, you should always have it treated. The doctor either cuts out the keratoses, scrapes them out, or works with cold or laser therapy. Some active ingredients for topical use have also been shown to be effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses, e.g. B. diclofenac, imiquimod or fluorouracil.

In squamous cell carcinomathe standard therapy consists in a complete surgical removal of the tumor. If is not possible or if the carcinoma is still in a very early stage, therapeutic measures such as scraping (curettage), freezing or local immunotherapy with cream and radiation can be used. If the skin cancer has progressed and metastasized, the doctor will likely try chemotherapy and medication to counteract it.

Treatment of black skin cancer

Black skin cancer must be completely surgically removed . If the melanoma has penetrated the tissue more than two millimeters deep, doctors often supplement the operation with immunotherapy to strengthen the body's own defense system so that it can fight tumor cells that may have remained in the body.

If the black skin cancer has already spread, the doctor treats with radiation and immunotherapy.