SCRIPT NUMBER 119
SKIN CANCER - 2
(TWO SPEAKERS)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: SKIN CANCER-2
PROGRAM NUMBER:
119
SUBJECT: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, PREVENTION OF SKIN
CANCER
KEY WORDS: SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, GENETIC MATERIAL,
LASER, ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION, SPF
DATE OF SCRIPT: JULY 5, 2013
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
SPEAKER 1:
Many people around the world spend long hours every day
exposed to the sun – some because of their work, and others because they lie in
the full sun trying to make themselves more beautiful by developing a tan to
darken their pale skin. The sun has some very beneficial effects. As an example,
it will activate vitamin D in the body, protecting it against some forms of heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes as well as a thinning of the bones.
Unfortunately, the sun also has effects that are not only dangerous, they can
actually be life threatening. Overexposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
SPEAKER 2:
Skin cancer is one of the world’s most common cancers.
Today, we will be talking about squamous cell carcinoma, the form of skin cancer
most likely to cause death. It is important to know about this cancer because,
when it is diagnosed and treated early, it can be cured. But left untreated, it will
enlarge, spread to other parts of the body and become deadly.
SPEAKER 1:
What causes skin cancer?
SPEAKER 2:
The cause of squamous cell carcinoma is very specific. It
almost always occurs in skin that has been exposed to sunlight or a sunlamp for
prolonged periods of time. Sunlight contains ultraviolet radiation, which is the
offending agent.
SPEAKER 1:
What is my risk of developing skin cancer?
SPEAKER 2:
If you have lived your life in the sun, you are at significant
risk. Your risk is greatest if you have lived in a sunny region at high altitude, and
if you have had significant sun exposure as a child. If you are light skinned, you
are at increased risk. Men are at a greater risk than women, and age is a factor.
People older than age 65 are at increased risk. For reasons that are not clear,
researchers have found that smokers are at even a higher risk of skin cancer
than non-smokers. Smoking may cause damage to the cell’s genetic material,
which increases the risk.
SPEAKER 1:
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
SPEAKER 2:
The most common symptom is the development of a hard,
flat, red abnormality on an area of your skin that has been chronically exposed to
the sun – an area such as your face, lower lip, your ears, neck, arms or hands.
The cancer develops as a scaly crust. It grows slowly, but in time it forms an
ulcer or a raised area on the skin.
SPEAKER 1:
Can I survive if I develop cancer of my skin?
SPEAKER 2:
Early diagnosis and treatment will cure skin cancer, but skin
cancer, if left untreated, will grow and eventually spread to the lymph nodes, and
to other organs. Skin cancers that grow to a size larger than about the thickness
of a pencil can grow deep into the skin and invade muscle, cartilage and bone.
Many doctors have a high suspicion of the diagnosis when they examine the
abnormal skin. They will remove a small portion of the abnormality and examine
it under a microscope to make the actual diagnosis.
SPEAKER 1:
How is skin cancer treated?
SPEAKER 2:
Most early skin cancers are removed with relatively minor
surgery. Removal of the tumor doesn’t require a general anesthetic. The area
around the abnormal skin is merely numbed with medicine. Cancers that are very
superficial can also be treated with cancer-killing ointments applied directly to the
skin. Some hospitals in developed parts of the world can remove small cancers
by freezing the abnormality with liquid nitrogen or by using a laser, a machine
that produces an intense beam of light, to eliminate a skin cancer located in an
area where a scar would be unsightly – in areas such as the nose, ears or
eyelids.
SPEAKER 1:
Tell me how I can avoid developing a skin cancer.
SPEAKER 2:
You can help to prevent it by avoiding direct sunlight at times
of the day when the sun is brightest – between about 10 AM to 4 PM.
Additionally, if you have to be outdoors in the sun, apply a sunscreen lotion.
Sunscreens don’t filter out all of the sun’s harmful radiation, but they do provide
protection against it’s harmful effects. Sunscreen lotions come with a number
called an SPF factor, and you want to use a lotion with an SPF factor of 15 or
higher. Use the sunscreen year-round whenever you are outdoors for an
extended period of time. Cover your entire body, including your lips, ears, the
backs of your hands and neck, applying it 20-30 minutes before you go outdoors,
and reapplying it every two hours throughout the day.
Another way to protect yourself is to wear protective clothing when you go
outdoors. It is important that the clothing be tightly woven, and that it covers your
arms and legs. Wear a broad-brimmed hat rather than a cap. If you have to be in
the sun doing your life’s work and you smoke, stop smoking.
SPEAKER 1:
Is there anything else I can do?
SPEAKER 2:
Studies have shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
will lower your risk of many cancers including skin cancer. These foods contain
vitamins that protect the cells of your body against damage. Eat at least 4
servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
God created us with skin that shields our bodies against the large variety of
poisons, bacteria and viruses that attack us, as well as to protect us from the
damaging effects of insults such as ultraviolet radiation. Our skin can serve us
effectively our entire lifetime if we help it to not become overwhelmed by the
hostile environment in which we live.
.
SPEAKER 1:
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical
doctor working in the United States. The medical views expressed in this
program are his and may differ for your particular health needs. If you need
medical advice, please consult a medical professional in your area.