When the sun shines gently on the earth, we enjoy the gift of nature, but few people realize that excessive sunshine may be one of the culprits of skin cancer. Skin cancer, which sounds like a distant name, is not far from our lives.
First, the true face
of skin cancer There are three main types of
skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are more common, grow more slowly, and have a higher survival rates. Melanoma, though less common, is the deadliest form, develops rapidly, and metastasizes easily. The occurrence of skin cancer is closely related to long-term ultraviolet radiation, in addition, genetic factors and the decline of immune system function are also reasons that can not be ignored.
2. How to detect skin cancer
early
Early detection of skin cancer is the key to improving survival rates. Be alert when the following changes occur on the skin:
1. New or original moles change, such as size, shape, color, etc.
2. Skin ulcers
that are not easy to heal
3. Abnormal plaques or nodules
on the skin surface
4. Frequent itching or pain
in some parts
Once the above symptoms are found, they should seek medical treatment in time, through professional examination to determine whether it is skin cancer, and carry out corresponding treatment.
Three, scientific sunscreen, let beauty and health coexist
In
daily life, taking effective sunscreen measures is an important means to prevent skin cancer. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more and reapply every two hours, especially during outdoor activities. Wearing long-sleeved clothes, hats and sunglasses can also effectively block ultraviolet rays. Try to avoid going out during the strong sunshine period and reduce the time of direct exposure to the sun.
Four, the treatment methods are diverse, and medical progress brings hope
.
For patients diagnosed with skin cancer, modern medicine provides a variety of treatment options, which not only improves the survival rates, but also improves the quality of life of patients.
1. Surgical excision-precise attack, direct attack on the lesion
Surgical resection is the most direct and commonly used treatment, especially for patients with early skin cancer. Surgery can effectively prevent the spread of cancer by removing the tumor and the surrounding normal tissues within a certain range. With the development of minimally invasive technology, today’s surgical trauma is smaller, recovery is faster, and the impact on the daily life of patients is greatly reduced.
2. Radiotherapy-non-invasive treatment, precise control
Radiation therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from proliferating. For patients with inoperable or advanced skin cancer, radiotherapy can provide effective local control, reduce symptoms and prolong survival. Modern radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT), make the treatment more precise and have fewer side effects.
3. Chemotherapy and biological immunotherapy-internal and external treatment, comprehensive attack
Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, through the use of drugs. For skin cancer with distant metastasis, chemotherapy can be used as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the disease and control the progress of the disease. Biological immunotherapy is a new type of treatment in recent years, which can fight cancer by activating or enhancing the body’s own immune system. For example, immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have shown surprising efficacy in refractory skin cancers such as melanoma.
4. Targeted therapy-precision medicine, personalized treatment
With the advancement of gene sequencing technology, scientists have discovered more and more specific gene mutations related to skin cancer. Targeted drugs developed for these mutations can accurately attack cancer cells at the molecular level and reduce damage to normal cells. For example, BRAF inhibitors have been shown to have a significant therapeutic effect on melanoma patients carrying the BRAF V600E mutation.
Skin cancer is not invincible, the key is early prevention, early detection and early treatment. Let’s take a scientific approach to protect ourselves from the threat of skin cancer and enjoy a healthy and beautiful life from now on. While pursuing beauty, we should not forget to put on a layer of protective gown for our skin, so that sunshine can become our healthy partner, not a threat.
