Do i have skin cancer?

Dedicated to Providing Superior Diagnostics

Skin Cancer is on the Rise
Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer, with more than
3.5 million cases per year. Early detection and treatment are key
to prevention and survival. It’s critical to pay attention to moles
and other marks on your skin and get a skin exam once a year.
Who Gets It?
• 1 in 5 Americans
• 1 in 3 Caucasians
• Increasing incidence with age
• Higher rate in older men & young women
• Higher rate among people with family history of skin cancer
• Higher rate among people with high sun exposure & tanning bed use


Do You Have Skin Cancer?
• Basal cell carcinoma-most common cancer
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma-one of most lethal forms of cancer
• Pre-cancers
• Others (e.g., lymphoma)

The following photos show typical skin lesions that may be
or develop into one of the top three forms of skin cancer.

Photos from KDL Pathology and The Skin Cancer Foundation. Slide show adapted from www.cbsnews.com/2300-
204_162-10006772-5.html#ixzz1l4eJhlHU


Actinic Keratosis, All May Develop into Cancer
Classic actinic keratosis - flat, pink and scaly.
Although you might be able to pick this crusty
lesion off with your fingers, it would grow back.
• rough
• sometimes bleed
• tend to occur on sun-exposed skin, including
the ears, face, scalp, backs of hands, neck.

Actinic keratosis, marked
with ink - in preparation
for its removal.


Treat Precancerous Lesions

These red, scaly patches are
Actinic keratoses. These back-
of-the-hand lesions are
common in older golfers and
others who spend a lot of time
outdoors.

Without treatment, actinic
keratoses can turn into a form
of cancer known as squamous
cell carcinoma.


Actinic Keratosis or Cancer?
This could be an actinic
keratosis or squamous cell
carcinoma. It should be
removed and sent to the lab
to determine.

In general, the prognosis is
good for people with
squamous cell carcinoma.
But a squamous cell
carcinoma that develops on
the lips or another mucous
membrane is more likely to
spread (metastasize) - and in
rare cases, proves deadly.


Basal Cell Carcinoma
Classic basal cell carcinoma - the
least dangerous form of skin
cancer. Note the red color and the
almost pearlescent look. These
cancers seldom metastasize but can
grow larger - and so should be
removed.

This basal cell carcinoma has turned
into a bloody, oozy mess. Any lesion
that bleeds and doesn't heal is suspect
and should be examined right away.


Results of Sun Exposure
Basal cell carcinomas
like these and other
cancers are common
on the face because it
gets so much sun
exposure over the
years.

Mohs surgery can be
performed on an
Some basal cell
outpatient basis to
carcinomas, like
minimizes scarring and
this one, have a
prevent disfigurement.
raised border.
Others not on the face can
simply be burned off.


Scar?

No, it’s basal cell carcinoma
that looks like a scar.
Atypical lesions like these
can be tricky to diagnose. If
it's not the aftermath of a
wound, it should likely be
removed.


Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This nodular ear lesion is a squamous cell
carcinoma. These lesions are seldom fatal but
can be disfiguring.

Squamous cell carcinoma
on the back of the hand.

Squamous cell carcinoma of
the nail.


It’s Deeper than it Looks
Just a scab? No--this is a squamous cell carcinoma.

Because skin cancers often extend deeper into tissue
than they appear, the surgery required to remove this
lesion is likely to be very extensive - and potentially
disfiguring.

Lesions should be removed before they get so big.


Is it a Mole?
This isn't skin cancer but a dysplastic nevus (mole).
These types of moles and lesions that appear
irregular but are generally benign. If you have a lot
of them, you may be more likely to develop skin
cancer.

Another dysplastic
nevus. The
irregular border
and different
shades of color This close-up shot shows another
can be signs of dysplastic nevus, but the dark color
melanoma - but is more typical of a melanoma and
not in this case. should be biopsied right away.


Melanoma-One of the Deadliest Cancers

Melanoma:
• color - dark, almost black
• irregular, scalloped border

Over time, melanomas grow and
thicken. The thicker the lesion, the
worse the prognosis.
This one should have been removed
long ago.


Melanomas Can Occur Anywhere, Don’t
Ignore Them

Looks like a black-and-
blue nail? No. It's a
melanoma, and lesions
like this can be deadly.

This melanoma has been
growing for years. Lesions Melanomas on the foot are
this extensive generally rare but sometimes deadly -
cannot be successfully because people may mistake
treated - which is why early them for warts, delaying
removal is so essential treatment by a doctor.


Advancing Melanoma
Classic melanoma with
typical very dark coloration
and varied (variegated)
color. In addition, it's highly
asymmetrical.

This melanoma is fairly advanced
- as evidenced by the raised
A melanoma portion. As melanomas grow and
this thick is thicken, they become harder to
almost certain treat successfully
to prove lethal.


Melanoma Color Variation
Here's a bluish-black
melanoma. Sometimes
melanomas start out as
one color and slowly
change

The pink area next to this
melanoma may be the
result of regression,
shrinking as the body tries
This blackish lesion is
to fight back. But the body
a melanoma. But
can't deal with a deadly
melanomas can also
lesion like this. It should be
look reddish, or even
removed promptly.
bluish


Larger Melanoma is more Deadly
People sometimes put off
going to the doctor even
when they suspect they have
a problem.

In other cases, melanomas
are allowed to grow big
because they develop on a
hard-to-see part of the body

Check your skin monthly and
don’t put off getting
suspicious lesion checked.


The ABCD’s of Melanomas

• Usually begin as small, flat colored lesion that spreads and thickens over time
• May begin in pre-existing tumor (nevus) or as a new tumor in sun-damaged skin


Skin Cancer Detection
The single most important sign of skin cancer is change in
appearance of the lesion.
• Have all suspicious lesions biopsied immediately
• Skin biopsy typically covered by insurance plans
• Clinical history may be misleading
• Contact KDL for more information at clientservices@kdlpathology.com

Who finds them?
• Patients- 50%
• Practitioners- 25%
• Family members – 20%
• Melanomas are identified sooner by medical practitioners than
patients


Keep a “WATCHFull Eye”
• Whites
• Adults
• Tanning bed/ sun exposure
• Changing lesions
• History- personal or family history of skin cancer
• Full skin examination
• Eye – look for lesions which have features of skin
cancer


KDL Pathology Accreditations & Licenses:
CAP, CLIA, State of TN
• Founded in 1997 by Dr. Paul B. Googe as
Knoxville Dermatopathology Laboratory, a Staff Board-Certified:
regional laboratory with national recognition Dermatopathologists,
Ophthalmic and Anatomic
• Only laboratory in East TN specializing in
Pathologists
pathology and diagnostic testing for diseases of
the skin, nail and eye Affiliations:
• Laboratory diagnostic reports correlate KDL Pathologists have
histologic findings, ancillary testing and clinical teaching appointments at UT
features Graduate School of Medicine
and Vanderbilt University
• Reports include therapeutic recommendation
when warranted or requested Active member of TN
Comprehensive Cancer
• RapidResults biopsy testing services available
TM
Control Coalition

Do i have skin cancer?

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