Skin Cancer – What We Need to Know About the Disease

Skin Cancer: Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment

Skin cancer refers to any malignant growth on the surface of human skin, mucous membranes, the retina of the eye, nails, and other areas.

It is vital to know that skin cancer can be defeated if detected at an early stage and if the patient receives qualified medical assistance promptly. Another crucial condition for fighting this severe but conquerable disease is self-education. Knowledge is power, and when a patient is well-informed, overcoming the disease becomes much simpler. Here is a list of important facts that everyone should know about skin cancer.

The disease is more common in women. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, certain types of skin cancer take on a more aggressive character in men. 70% of cases begin to develop in old age. Residents of southern countries are more frequently affected by this type of cancer. This is primarily linked to levels of awareness, the promotion of regular check-ups and modern diagnostics, and, of course, advanced treatment methods implemented abroad.

Symptoms and Signs of Skin Cancer

Unlike other types of oncological diseases that develop without specific symptoms in the early stages, skin cancer is usually easily noticeable even to the naked eye at an early stage.

External symptoms of skin cancer:

• A mole that has changed shape or color;
• An ulcer or wound that does not heal for a long time;
• A spot that gradually increases in size.

General symptoms:

• Loss of appetite;
• Chronic fatigue and weakness;
• Significant weight loss;
• Unexplained rise in body temperature.

Do not delay a visit to the dermatologist if any skin lesion progresses. Pain, itching, redness, changes in size, and bleeding are often the first signs of skin cancer, and in these cases, you should consult a doctor immediately. Even if you do not experience pain or unpleasant sensations, remember that monitoring your skin and its changes is the best prevention. It is worth noting that depending on the type of pathology, the signs, symptoms, and prognosis of skin oncology can vary.

Causes of Skin Cancer

Oncology experts highlight a range of causes and risk factors that play a significant role in the onset and development of skin cancer, specifically:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy;
• Prolonged contact with carcinogenic substances (soot, kerosene, coal tar, fuel oil, etc.);
• Excessive sun exposure;
• Frequent use of tanning beds;
• Working outdoors;
• Tobacco use;
• Neglect of personal hygiene;
• Epidermal injuries and wounds;
• Weakened immunity;
• AIDS;
• Lupus;
• Age (over 50);
• Genetic predisposition;
• Racial characteristics.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are several main types of skin cancer and many precancerous conditions that can develop into malignant tumors without timely treatment. The most common types of skin cancer are:

• Basal cell carcinoma;
• Melanoma;
• Squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma (Basalioma) accounts for 65-70% of skin cancer diagnoses. A basalioma is a superficial nodule or papule formed from atypical epidermal cells. Initially, such a growth may be mistaken for a mole, which gradually covers more and more of the skin's surface. This type of tumor rarely metastasizes; however, local growth causes skin destruction. Basalioma most often appears on the face, which is why most patients consult a doctor early, contributing to positive outcomes.

Melanoma is another type of skin cancer found in 20% of cases. This is a more dangerous type of cancer that feeds on the melanocytes present in epidermal tissues. The tumor can appear not only on the skin but also on mucous membranes—for example, in the oral cavity, eye pupils, vagina, nasal area, etc.—which excludes or complicates surgical treatment. Melanoma metastasizes very quickly to other tissues and lymph nodes; therefore, late diagnosis significantly worsens the treatment outcome. However, even in such cases, patients are offered treatment options that can prolong life and improve their condition.

Small-cell skin cancer, also known as Squamous cell carcinoma, is considered a more aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by a high probability of rapid metastasis to tissues (in 85% of cases). In the early stages, squamous cell carcinoma looks like a wart or a fungus. Patients note a distinct change in the color of the affected area due to hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, if the disease is detected late, even with a full course of treatment, squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by recurrence and often leads to a lethal outcome.

Skin Cancer Diagnostics at CMC Hospital

As statistics show, with timely diagnosis and correctly selected treatment, it is possible to defeat even the most aggressive oncological diseases. Patients who visit the Caucasus Medical Center undergo thorough diagnostics using the latest equipment. The clinic’s qualified doctors—specialists in oncology and dermatology—not only conduct examinations but also help patients make the right decisions. Creating a positive outlook for the patient, providing information about the disease, and offering the support of the treating physician are essential factors without which defeating this disease is impossible. In the Caucasus region, the Evex Hospitals network leads in providing high-quality medical services. This leadership is ensured not only by experienced doctors but also by the latest equipment and diagnostic and treatment methods.

We use the following diagnostic methods:

• Siascopy – Examination of pigmented spots on the skin;
• Dermoscopy – Use of an optical device with multiple magnification functions to study skin growths;
• Biopsy – Taking material from a lymph node to determine the nature of the pathology;
• Cytological analysis – Microscopic examination aimed at identifying pathological cells taken from the surface of growths;
• Histological analysis – Laboratory examination of pathological growth tissues to determine the type and stage of cancer and sensitivity to drugs;
• Ultrasound examination, which allows for determining the exact location of the malignant growth and visualizing the presence of metastases in internal organs;
• Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and X-ray, which make it possible to identify other foci and evaluate the level of the spread.

Skin Cancer Treatment

Despite widespread opinion, cancer is not a death sentence. Despite the increase in oncological diseases, the mortality rate is decreasing due to the implementation of new treatment methods and technologies. Modern medicine can not only prolong a patient's life but, in some cases, ensure full recovery and exclude recurrence.

After a diagnosis of skin cancer, many patients begin seeking treatment opportunities abroad, and making such a decision often saves their lives. Foreign patients frequently visit Evex Hospitals after failing to receive proper treatment in their own countries, entrusting their health to our clinic’s leading specialists.

The Oncology Department of the Caucasus Medical Center utilizes the following types of skin cancer treatment in practice:

Surgical treatment – Surgical treatment involves the excision of the pathological growth, which is applied at the initial stage of the disease, provided the tumor is located in a favorable site for surgery. At the same time, besides tumor excision, the doctor "cleans" the surrounding tissue. This procedure involves burning the affected area, electrocoagulation and scraping, or curettage.

When the tumor is localized in visible areas of the skin, such as the face, delicate surgical methods are used, such as cryodestruction, where the growth is frozen with liquid nitrogen and separated from the surrounding tissue without damaging it.

This method is not used for particularly aggressive forms of tumors, as there is a high probability of leaving pathological cells behind, and consequently, a recurrence of the disease.

In our clinic, operations are also performed using the Mohs method, during which the skin cancer tumor is excised layer by layer, and each layer is sent to the laboratory for examination. The operation is performed under a microscope, and if the cytology does not show the presence of pathological cells in a given layer of skin, the surgeon completes the process.

Medication therapy or Chemotherapy is used as an auxiliary tool after surgery, as well as an independent therapeutic method. There is both local and general chemotherapy. The latter is used in the presence of advanced metastases or if local impact is impossible due to the tumor's location.

Laser therapy involves the removal of the tumor with a laser.

Cryogenic therapy – Destruction of pathological cells using frozen liquid nitrogen. The advantage of this method is the aesthetic result; however, this treatment method is not used for all types of skin cancer. Radiation therapy, so-called radiotherapy, is widely used to treat tumors located in hard-to-reach areas of the face and body, as well as the head and mucous membranes. Radiotherapy is often prescribed as an aid to surgical treatment.

Photodynamic therapy – Destruction of tumor cells with photosensitizing medications along with laser removal of damaged layers. This method is relatively new, though modern doctors increasingly use it in their practice.

Immune or Targeted therapy – When choosing this method, doctors are guided by the principle of "improving life." Quite often, the patient's body cannot withstand aggressive therapy; in such cases, the disease needs to be treated with pinpoint accuracy. When choosing this type of treatment, our doctors take the patient's genetic characteristics into account.

We live in an era of ecological disasters, the boom of the chemical manufacturing industry, and total chaos in the food industry. Nevertheless, in this disorder, the health of ourselves and our loved ones must be protected as the most precious thing we possess. What is needed for this? Awareness, a competent approach, and a desire to enjoy life. Do not delay your visit to the doctor until tomorrow; be healthy today.

Sophio Liluashvili – MD; PhD, Dermato-venerologist; Head of the Dermatology Center. 

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