Skin cancer has its own language:The following list of basic terms will help guide you through it. For further clarification, turn to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/) or National Cancer Organization (www.cancer.gov/) sites or The Cancer Dictionary by M. J. Sarg and A. D. Gross.
Actinic keratosis: a precancerous (premalignant) condition or stage of usually squamous cell carcinoma. It is characterized by scaly, thick, raised patches on the skin. Fair complexioned individuals are more prone as are older people.
Basal cell carcinoma: most common form of non melanoma skin cancers. It is the least lethal type and often appears at the side of the eye or nose.
Benign: Not cancerous. It remains “in situ’ – not invasive of surrounding tissues.
Biopsy: A medical procedure in which a sample of the cell or tissue is removed for diagnosing by a microscope. This occurs to discover the existence and/or extent of the cancer.
Cancer: The general term describes over 100 different diseases. The common characteristic is an abnormal growth of cells capable of spreading to other tissues and body parts. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of cancer.
Carcinoma: This is a general term for cancer that begins in the cells lining the epithelial tissue.
Carcinoma in situ: This refers to a cancer that remains in the same place as its origins. It does not spread.
Chemotherapy: This is the use of toxic chemicals/drugs to interfere with the growth of the tumor and the production of cancerous cells. The dose may be given intravenously, through a pump/port, pills or even in a cream topical application.
Clinical Trial: Examines and compares a specific treatment (a standard of care) with a new treatment. Tightly regulated by the government, clinical trials are means of exploring new options and arriving at new standards of care.
Cryosurgery: The use of a substance, often liquid nitrogen, to destroy tissue. It is applied directly to the skin. Often used for basal cell carcinoma.
Curettage and Electrodessication: A procedure in which a curette (sharp-edged tool) is used to scrape away cancerous tissue before the surrounding edges are burnt with an electric needle (electrodessication).
Excision: This term means the cutting out through surgery of a tumor, sometimes for a biopsy.
External radiation therapy: Also known as teletherapy, this refers to the application of high-energy rays onto the skin using machines located outside of the body. The purpose is to destroy a tumor or to act as a palliative treatment.
Inflammation: The body reacts to the invasion of a foreign body, including external objects and diseases, by becoming hot, swollen and red. This is inflammation.
Lymph node: often referred to as lymph glands, these small bean-shaped parts act as part of the lymphatic system to receive and filter lymphatic fluid. They also store cells capable of snaring bacteria and cancer cells. Lymph nodes are spread throughout the entire body. The sentinel lymph nodes act as a form of warning as to the spread of cancer. See Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.
Melanoma : This is the most deadly form of skin cancer. It affects the production of melanin – responsible for skin pigmentation. Melanoma is also the skin cancer that spreads the fastest and most. The most common method of treatment is surgery followed by other forms including radiation and chemotherapy.
Metastasis: This is refers to the actual method of transferring disease from its initial or primary location to other body parts. The term may also be applied to the actual cancer that has spread.
Mohs surgery: This is a specialized form of skin cancer surgery. It strips away each layer of skin/tumor, sending each off to the pathologist for examination. The procedure continued until the sample is declared devoid of cancer cells. To date, this form of surgery has proven to be one of the most effective with the highest cure rate.
Punch biopsy: This is a biopsy procedure involving the use of a specific medical instrument called a punch.
Radiation Therapy: This procedure utilizes high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells or prevent multiplication or growing by delivering them directly to the affected area.
Recur: The term applies to something that comes back again or re-occurs.
Recurrence: In skin cancer, this term refers to the return of the disease after a time without (remission). The skin cancer may appear in the place of origin or elsewhere on/in the body.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: A procedure done to determine the existence and actual spread of the cancer growth. The sentinel lymph node nearest to the tumor is selected to determine whether caner has entered the lymphatic system.
Skin Cancer: This is the most common form of cancer. While there are several different types, the most common are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The primary cause of most skin cancers is prolonged exposure or sporadic overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Squamous cell carcinoma: After basal cell carcinoma, this is the most common form of skin cancer. The exposed skin may appear red, scaly and patchy. The most common ways to treat this form of cancer is through excision, Mohs surgery, lasers and topical treatment.
Stage: The term is applicable to the specific extent of the skin cancer. In particular the term is used to describe the extent and severity of the development.
Surgery: This is a method of treatment involving the removal of body tissue. Concerning skin cancer, it is most common for melanoma. The method may be a wide excision or a conservative re-excision. Curettage and Electrodessication, the use of a laser and biopsy are also forms of surgery.
Topical Application: The use of a specific medication, including both natural and toxic material, to stop and prevent cancer cells from growing.
Tumor: Tumor is any abnormal tissue growth within the body. They can be classified as basically benign (cancer-free) or malignant (cancerous). There are, however, many different kinds of tumors.
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