|
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and accounts for half of all new cancers in Western populations. It occurs more often in people with light coloured skin who have had a high exposure to sunlight. The two most frequent types of skin cancer are
Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (often grouped under "non-melanoma skin cancer"). The third most frequent skin cancer is Melanoma, this is a malignancy of the cells which give the skin it's colour (melanocytes). In addition there are a
number of other, less common cancers starting in the skin including Merkel cell tumours, cutaneous lymphomas, and sarcomas (see the pages on sarcoma and lymphoma in this guide).
|
-
 General Resources
- Malignant Melanoma
- Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
- Merkel Cell Cancer
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
- Prevention of Skin Cancer
 Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
- Kaposi's Sarcoma
- Specialty> Dermatology
- Dermatology Journals
- Screening for skin cancer (CancerNet) Patient's information
- What You Need to Know About Moles and Dysplastic Nevi- Patient's booklet (National Cancer Institute, USA) This site contains information about the disease, diagnosis, staging, and treatment options.
- What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer- Patient's booklet (National Cancer Institute, USA) This site contains information about the disease, diagnosis, staging, and treatment options.
- A Brief Introduction to Skin Cancer Ultra Violet Light
- American Society For Dermatologic Surgery - Skin Cancer Fact Sheet (USA) ASDS was formed in 1970 to promote standards of patient care for the surgical treatment of skin conditions. The site had a brief skin cancer fact sheet. ASDS toll free hotline: 1-800-441-2737, during weekday business hours (CST).
- Dermatology Times - Skin Cancer This section of the Dermatology Times Web site includes news items related to skin cancer and sun protection.
- Eyelid Skin Cancer This page is part of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Web site. It contains an overview of skin cancer of the eyelid, treatment, reconstruction and a picture.
- Identifying Skin Cancers (Arizona Cancer Center)
- Melanoma And Related Cancers of the Skin (MARCSLINE) (Wessex Cancer Trust, UK) information about the main types of skin cancer, including pictures.
- Melanoma Skin Cancer - Fact Sheet Cancer Research UK
- Questions and Answers: Skin cancer From the CancerHelp Web site produced by Cancer Research UK.
- Skin and Cancer Foundation (Australia) a non-profit specialist dermatology service with clinics in Darlinghurst and Westmead, NSW
- Skin Cancer - overview (MedicineNet)
- Skin Cancer - Patients summary (CanCom)
- Skin Cancer - The Facts (UK) this site contains information about various types of skin cancer, treatment, skin protection, links and an on-line chat room. It has been created by Jason who had a rodent ulcer (basal cell cancer) to promote awarenes of skin cancer.
- Skin Cancer and Benign Tumor Image Atlas (Loyola University, Chicago, USA) The Atlas contains multiple pictures and histology images for over 25 different skin conditions.
- Skin Cancer Foundation, The (USA) This is a national non-profit organisation based in New York. It promotes research and awareness about skin cancer. It produces a range of booklets and other publications. The Web site includes information about skin cancer and sun safety.
- Skin Cancer Guide - Medical information you really want to know (AfraidToask.com) This guide includes information about the various types of skin cancer and includes graphic pictures together with information about prevention and early detection.
- Skin Cancer Overview (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
- Skin Cancer Research Foundation (Southern Australia) a non-profit organisation. The site includes information about skin cancer, prevention, detection and has the current UV levels for Adelaide.
********** Information for Health Professionals ***********
- CancerLit s: Skin Cancer (National Cancer Institute) On-line abstracts for health professionals. Sorted by month and year for Therapy of Melanoma
- Physician's PDQ statement - Screening for Skin Cancer (CancerNet)
- Case study: A nine month old infant with melanotic choroid plexus papilloma (Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh)
- Dermatopathology (WebPath, USA) Pathology Images - including some cancer related.
- Evidence of an Association Between non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Skin Cancer BMJ Abstract - Adami J, Frisch M, Yuen J, Glimelius B, Melbye M
- Managed Care and Skin Cancer: A Cause for Concern (AboutHealth.com)
- Skin Cancer - with pictures (National Skin Center - Singapore)
- Tutorial: Lumps in general - Skin Cancer etc. Interactive Teaching Project for Surgery - (UK)
Melanoma is a malignancy of the skin in which melanocytes (the cells which give the skin it's colour) become cancerous. Melanoma occurs most frequently in white people, and is rare in people with dark skin; it is usually found in adults, though
occasionally melanoma may develop in children and adolescents. Over exposure to sunlight can cause skin changes which can lead to melanoma. Half of all melanomas are thought to arise in a benign (non-cancerous) pigmented nevus (a mole). Moles are very
common and normally change only slightly over time; however in melanoma there may be a more rapid increase in size - symptoms include a darker or variable discoloration, itching, and possibly ulceration and bleeding.
- Patient's information for Melanoma (CancerNet) Information about the disease, staging, and treatment overviews. It is reviewed each month by a panel of medical experts.
- What You Need to Know About Melanoma - Patient's booklet (National Cancer Institute, USA) This site contains information about the disease, diagnosis, staging, and treatment options.
- Chrystal's Home Page / Melanoma Story (USA) This patient produced site includes a description of life with metastatic malignant melanoma and links to various aspects of skin cancer.
- Dan's Melanoma Page (USA) personal experience of Dan who had a large melnoma on the neck/shoulder excised in 1997.
- Familial Melanoma and the CDKN2A gene (National Center for Biotechnology Information) an overview of melanoma and the CDKN2 gene with links to other gene databases.
- Johns Hopkins Oncology Center - Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Clinic (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) a NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
- Malignant Melanoma (Wessex Cancer Trust, UK) information sheet including pictures of skin cancer.
- Malignant Melanoma (CancerHelp UK) Information about the cancer, diagnosis, treatment and living with the disease.
- Malignant Melanoma - Skin Cancer and Benign Tumor Image Atlas (Loyola University, Chicago, USA)
- MEL-L Melanoma Support Group (ACOR) Email discussion list
- Melanoma (The Skin Cancer Foundation, USA) This section has information about melanoma with pages on diagnosis, treatment, an early warning system with melanoma pictures and tips on coping.
- Melanoma - overview (MedicineNet)
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Institute / Melanoma Foundation / Sydney Melanoma Unit (Australia) a detailed guide with pictures and detailed informaton about the different types of skin cancer, prevention, treatment, research, events, news etc.
- Melanoma Education Fund (Massachusetts, USA) This is a non-profit organization promoting melanoma awareness, particularly in adolescents, young adults and parents. The site includes information about self-examination, protecting the skin, photographs of moles and melanomas.
- Melanoma Patient's Network (YourDoctor Inc., USA) the site includes detailed information about melanoma and treatment. Board certified surgeons, oncologist, or dermatologists can pay to be listed on the sites doctor referral service.
- Melanoma Patients' Information Page (by Jeff Patterson, USA) a site with information about melanoma, abstract searches, clinical trials, bulletin board, chat room, patient's network / register, links etc.
- Melanoma Program - World Health Organisation An international co-operative group founded in 1965 which is involved in clinical trials, basic research and education. The web site includes details of participating institutions, reports, trials, events, newsletter and related links.
- Melanoma Research Foundation (USA) A non-profit patient's organisation founded in 1996 supporting research and raising public awareness. The site includes information about MRF, news, grants, publications, mailing list, a message board, and other resources.
- Melanoma.com An educational Web site of the Schering Corporation with information about melanomas, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and promotion of interferon therapies.
- MelanomaNet This Web site is part of an educational programme of the American Academy of Dermatology. It includes patient information and a section for dermatologists.
- Mike's Page - The Melanoma Resource Center The site includes a Melanoma FAQ and many links to related resources.
- Northern California Melanoma Center (Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, USA) The web site includes details about NCMC and services, news and events and information about melanoma.
- Recognizing Melanoma An illustrated guide
- StopMeanoma.com - Mark's Melanoma Hotlist (USA) This site was originally founded in 1995 as Mark's Melanoma Hotlist. It includes detailed melanoma links, personal stories and other information.
- Sunscreens and Melanoma (Medical Science Bulletin, Pharminfo)
- Systemic treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma (Cochrane Collaboration) Abstract of a systematic review.
- Understanding Malignant Melanoma (BACUP, UK) An on-line booklet
********** Information for Health Professionals ***********
- Abnormal Moles Found To Increase Risk of Melanoma (CancerNet) Fact sheet about new research showing an increased risk of melanoma in people with abnormal moles.
- Physician's PDQ statement for Melanoma (CancerNet) A referenced overview of the disease, cellular classification, staging, and current treatment overviews. It is reviewed each month by experts at the NCI.
- AMEDEO Medical Literature Guide - Malignant Melanoma
- Case study: An 83 year old female with primary malignant melanoma of the vagina (Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh)
- Childhood Melanoma Physician oriented article by Jay M. Pensler, MD (CancerNews)
- Melanoma Research (Journal) a journal for the rapid dissemination of research on melanoma both at the basic and clinical level.
- Melanoma Research Project Network (Hamburg, Germany) This professional oriented site has detailed information and images of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The group has organised international Melanoma Workshop Series since 1989 and their web site started in 1995.
- Physician's statement for Melanoma (START, European School of Oncology) Referenced statement including sections on epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up produced by an editorial board of top European oncologists. [Go to Chapters]
- Medline Search: malignant melanoma (PubMed)
Limit search to: [Last Year] Limit search to: [Last 2 Years]
Limit search to: [Reviews]
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, it occurs when basal cells (round cells found in the outer layer of skin) become cancerous. The second most common type of skin cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma, this is where
squamous cells (the flat, scaly cells on the surface of the skin) become malignant . Cure rates are very high for both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. In addition there are a number of other, less common cancers starting in the skin
including Merkel cell tumours and cutaneous lymphomas and sarcomas (see the sections on sarcoma and lymphoma for more information about these).
- Patient's information for Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma) (CancerNet) Information about the disease, staging, and treatment overviews. It is reviewed each month by a panel of medical experts.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (Wessex Cancer Trust, UK) information sheet including pictures of skin cancer.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma - Skin Cancer and Benign Tumor Image Atlas (Loyola University, Chicago, USA)
- Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (The Skin Cancer Foundation, USA) This page hasinformation about non-melanoma skin cancer and includes pictures of skin cancers and warning signs to look out for.
- CTCL-MF - Information and Support for: Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma / Mycosis Fungoides Email List
- Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome Support Network (Roswel Park Cancer Institute, USA) Newsletters for 1996
- Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (CancerHelp UK) Information about the cancer, diagnosis, treatment and living with the disease.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Wessex Cancer Trust, UK) information sheet including pictures of skin cancer.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Skin Cancer and Benign Tumor Image Atlas (Loyola University, Chicago, USA)
- Understanding Cancers of the Skin (BACUP, UK) An on-line booklet about basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
********** Information for Health Professionals ***********
- Physician's PDQ statement for Skin Cancer (Non Melanoma) (CancerNet) A referenced overview of the disease, cellular classification, staging, and current treatment overviews. It is reviewed each month by experts at the NCI.
- Case study: A fifty-four year old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the right cheek (Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh)
- Case study: A fourty two year old male with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh)
- Medline Search: non-melanoma skin cancer (PubMed)
Limit search to: [Last Year] Limit search to: [Last 2 Years]
Limit search to: [Reviews]
- Medline Search: basal cell carcinoma (PubMed)
Limit search to: [Last Year] Limit search to: [Last 2 Years]
Limit search to: [Reviews]
- Medline Search: squamous cell carcinoma AND skin cancer (PubMed)
Limit search to: [Last Year] Limit search to: [Last 2 Years]
Limit search to: [Reviews]
Merkel cell cancer (also known as trabecular cancer, or neuroendocrine cancer of the skin) is a
rare type of malignancy developing on or just beneath the skin. These tumours can develop at any age, but the peak incidence is between ages 60 - 80. They are more frequent in white people, the most common sites of diseases are the face or scalp and other
areas of high sun exposure.
See also Soft Tissue Sarcomas
See also Cancer Prevention and Screening
|
Home>
Cancer Types> Skin Cancer