Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

What is mycosis fungoides? Mycosis fungoides is an uncommon chronic type of malignancy which can last for many years. In its early stages it usually affects the skin and may stay confined to one area for years. The disease is slowly progressive, and patients live for many years with localized disease. Eventually the lymph nodes and internal organs may become involved. Is mycosis fungoides some kind of fungus? The disease was named several centuries ago when it was thought to be caused by some kind of fungus. It has long been recognized that it is a disease primarily affecting the reticuloendothelial system cells scattered throughout the body which destroy other cells, bacteria, and fragments of foreign materials, form antibodies, and regulate the immune reaction and the formation of blood cells . Is mycosis fungoides a form of leukemia? Because it may arise simultaneously in many different areas of the skin, mycosis fungoides is considered to be a T-cell lymphoma related to H...

What is a skin graft? A portion of healthy skin is taken from one area of your body (called the donor site) and moved to another area (called the recipient site). In skin cancer , such grafts cover the areas that have been left bare by the surgical removal of portions of the skin. The skin is usually taken from the back or thigh or other part of the body and is stitched to the injured part. The graft is nourished by small arteries from the tissue surrounding the injured area. Are there different ways of doing skin grafts? There are several different ways: • Pinch grafts:  Small pieces, usually about 1/4 inch in diameter, are taken from the uppermost layer of the skin and spaced in the area missing the skin. The small pieces grow in the new location and spread out to cover the bare area. This method is used usually in very small areas such as the eyelid. • Split thickness grafts:  These are sheets of skin, sometimes measuring several inches in diameter, taken fr...

What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer . When diagnosed early, it is easily cured. But if it is not found soon enough, it can be very difficult to treat. It is dangerous because, unlike the other skin cancers, it mestastasizes early and spreads quickly. It is one of the more uncontrollable cancers. The cell involved is the melanocyte, the cell which produces melanin, the dark protective pigment of the skin . What is the difference between an ordinary mole and melanoma? An ordinary mole is evenly colored, and either brown, tan or black. It may be flat or raised. It is round or oval and its edges are sharply defined. An ordinary mole is usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter about the size of a pencil eraser. Ordinary moles may be present at birth. Sometimes several appear at the same time, usually on areas of the skin which have been exposed to the sun. Once the mole develops, it usually stays the same size, shape and color for ma...

Are the different treatments ever combined? Are the treatments for skin cancer usually repeated over a long period of time? Sometimes one treatment is sufficient. In other circumstances, repeated treatments are necessary. In some cases, a combination of methods may be used. Again, it depends upon the individual case. Does skin cancer recur? Yes. Skin cancer is one of the most common recurrent cancers. A person with skin cancer has a 50 to 60 percent chance of having a second cancer, usually another skin cancer. Therefore, patients should have follow up visits two to four times a year. Is there any research under way using vitamin A to prevent the recurrence of basal cell cancer? The National Cancer Institute is conducting a five year study to test the effectiveness of a form of vitamin A isotretinoin in slowing the development of new basal cell skin cancers. Skin cancer patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups and receive either the isotretinom or a placebo. Neith...

How is skin cancer treated? There are several ways of treating skin cancer . The most common ones are surgery and radiation therapy. However, heat, freezing (cryosurgery), chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are all being used in some instances. What factors determine the treatment used? The treatment depends upon many things: the type of growth, its location, its size, the rate of growth, the degree of extension and mestastasis, and whether or not it is a recurring growth. The doctor must also take into account the physical condition of the patient and how the person might respond to the various treatments. The treatment chosen should be the one which will give the best results both medically and cosmetically. The patient's preference should be taken into consideration. When are surgery and radiation therapy used? A small growth which is easily accessible is usually removed completely by surgery in the doctor's office. If the growth is large or is in a place where the su...

Should I take precautions while sunbathing?  Yes, you should. Try to acquire your tan slowly in the earlymorning or late afternoon sun. Begin at 15 minutes per day and gradually work up to between 30 and 45 minutes. Avoid blistering sunburns. Avoid midday sun. Use a sunscreen, beginning with the highest sun protection factor (SPF) and gradually decreasing. What does the term sun protection factor mean?   Sun protection factor indicates how long you can stay in the sun without burning. If a sunscreen has an SPF of 4, it means you can stay out in the sun four times longer than without the screen and not get burned. People with lighter skin need a higher SPF than those with darker skin. What SPF gives the highest protection?   The SPF values range from 2 to 15. They are usually numbered 2, 4, 6, 8, 15. Some newer sunscreens have an SPF of 18 and above with the ability to stay on for many hours even when you are wet. Apply at least 30 minutes before going into the s...

Skin Cancers Cancer of the skin is the most common kind of cancer and, because it is visible, it is the most easily diagnosed and treated. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 900,000 such cancers are treated each year. With the exception of malignant melanoma, skin cancer is also the most curable of all cancers. Skin cancer can develop in almost any area of the skin. The face, neck, forearms, and backs of hands, because they are most exposed, are the most common sites. Long term exposure to the sun is the most common cause of skin cancer. Those Most Likely to Get Skin Cancer  • Light skinned persons living in the southern part of the country • Persons who have had excessive exposure to the sun without protection, such as farmers, seamen, ranchers, etc. • Persons over 40 years of age, males more often than females • Persons with fair complexions whose skin sunburns rather than tans • Relatives of persons with basal cell skin cancer • Persons who have had exces...