President Joe Biden was discovered to have skin cancer at his annual physical in February and underwent surgery to remove it. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States but if detected early, can be effectively treated. According to doctors, five signs indicate whether spots on the skin are cancerous.
White House physician Kevin O'Connor confirmed that recent test results proved the tissue removed from Biden at the time was basal cell carcinoma, one of the three major types of skin cancer. The president’s cancer lesion has been completely removed and no further treatment is needed.
Unlike the more serious form of skin cancer known as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma is less likely to spread or metastasize, O'Connor added. However, it could still grow larger, which is why President Biden’s affected skin tissue needed to be removed.
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Skin cancer is diagnosed more than all other cancer types in the United States each year. About 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, and more than two people die from the disease every hour. Experts estimate that about
1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer before the age of 70.
Dr. Wu Yuhong, a dermatologist at
Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan,
wrote that the skin is the largest organ in the human body, and that there are numerous kinds of cells that may cause cancer. The most common of these are from the keratinocytes and melanocytes within the epidermis because they are most exposed to sunlight. Long-term ultraviolet radiation can lead to cancerous lesions in these cells.
Wu said that there are three main types of skin cancer, including
basal cell carcinoma caused by keratinocyte lesions, squamous cell, and melanoma caused by melanocyte lesions.
1. Basal cell carcinoma
The most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, accounts for nearly 80 percent of all skin cancer cases and occurs in areas that are prone to sun exposure, such as the face, back of the hands, and forearms. It has a low degree of malignancy and rarely metastasizes, and most can be cured by surgical resection. But because it grows slowly and is often painless and asymptomatic, it’s often overlooked.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma often occurs in areas prone to sun exposure, but it can also appear in chronic sores or wounds, or in people who have been exposed to chemicals or radiation for a long time. The prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma is related to the time of diagnosis—the earlier it is found, the easier the treatment and the better the prognosis.
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3. Melanoma
One of the deadliest skin cancers, melanoma spreads easily and is difficult to treat. According to
statistics from the American Cancer Society, melanoma accounts for only one percent of skin cancers, yet accounts for most skin cancer deaths. Melanoma may be cured by surgical removal only if it is detected very early, thus frequent check-ups and special attention to changes in skin moles are required.
Dr. Zhong Peiyi, a dermatologist at Lee Women’s Hospital in Taiwan,
posted a case on her Facebook channel. One patient, Mr. Wang, is a retired driver. During his pre-retirement work, he was often exposed to the sun. After retirement, his only leisure activity was farming. Recently, he discovered a mole under his left eye. At first, he was not concerned, but later followed the advice of relatives and friends to see a doctor. After being told of the possibility of a tumor, he hoped to undergo surgery to remove it.
However, on the day of surgery, doctors found another suspicious skin lesion beneath the mole and discovered that the skin in this area had recently shrunk and would break and bleed if disturbed. A biopsy confirmed that the skin lesion was basal cell carcinoma.
Zhong said that basal cell carcinoma may occur in any part of the body, and generally, can be cured by surgical resection. However, it can metastasize if not treated early and gradually expand and erode the surrounding tissues. Tumor growth can make future surgery difficult.
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There may be moles and spots on all parts of the skin. Although most moles are benign and have no impact on health, it should be noted that not all are benign. The most overlooked mole-like malignancies are basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Difference Between Basal Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma
Basal cell carcinomas often develop on the head and neck and usually appear as shiny pink or flesh-colored papules or nodules. Because it grows slowly, it is often mistaken for a mole or wart. Most basal cell carcinomas are achromatic (without color), but varying amounts of melanin may be present in these tumors.
Basal cell carcinoma tends to have proliferating blood vessels prone to bleeding. Although rarely fatal, local tissue destruction may occur when treatment is inadequate or delayed.
Melanoma, on the other hand, develops in cells that produce melanin (melanocytes) and can appear anywhere on the body—often on the back, legs, arms, and face. It can also appear on the soles of the feet, palms, and nails. These hidden melanomas are more common in people with darker skin.
The British Skin Foundation
states that melanoma can develop from an existing mole, but more often is found in new ones. Seventy percent of melanoma cases in adults are not related to an existing mole.
Ways to Spot Suspicious Signs of Skin Cancer
Any unusual changes in the appearance or feel of your skin, such as moles, sores, bumps, blemishes, or markings, may be a sign of melanoma or other types of skin cancer, the American Cancer Society
advises. The most important warning signs of melanoma are new spots or ones that change in size, shape, or color on the skin.
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The American Cancer Society and the
American Academy of Dermatology recommend the acronymic “ABCDE” self-examination guide to help determine whether an unusual mole or suspicious spot on the skin may be melanoma.
The specific method is as follows:
A. Asymmetrical: One half of the mole or birthmark does not match the other half. Asymmetric skin growths, where one part differs from the other, may be a sign of melanoma. One half of the mole is darker and slightly raised, while the other is lighter and flat.
B. Border: Irregular, jagged, chipped, or blurred edges. Melanomas may have poorly defined borders. Doctors will check for growths that are irregular, notched, or have scalloped borders.
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C. Color: May include varying shades of brown or black, or sometimes with pink, red, white, or blue spots. Multiple colors or an uneven distribution of colors may indicate cancer.
D. Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 mm in diameter (about the size of an eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
E. Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color. Watch for moles that grow larger, change color or shape, or develop new symptoms such as itching or bleeding.
The American Cancer Society emphasizes that any discovery of the above on a mole or pigmented spot on the skin merits an immediate consultation with a dermatologist.
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