home Audience 7 What cancer metastases look like: photos of tumors in all organs. Cancer tumor. Photo of malignant tumors

What cancer metastases look like: photos of tumors in all organs. Cancer tumor. Photo of malignant tumors

Cancer is a disease that is not very easy to immediately recognize due to the typicality of the main symptoms and signs. Sometimes it is necessary to first compare cancer / photo.

It should be borne in mind that not all types of oncological formations can be visually detected. Some internal cancers are determined only in the laboratory by cytological and histological analysis. However, certain visual conditions of the state of the body still indicate a malignant process.

As the cancer grows, it compresses nearby organs and blood vessels, and also spreads to other tissues. Some types of oncological diseases have a distinct characteristic and image, with the help of which it is easy to establish a final diagnosis.

Leading clinics abroad

What does a cancerous tumor look like depending on the type of cancer?

There are over 100 types of cancer that are related to the specific organ or tissue in which they occur. They are distinguished depending on the type of abnormal cells:

Carcinoma

This is the most common type of cancer. formed in epithelial cells that cover the inner and outer surfaces of the body. Epithelial cells, in turn, are represented by multiple varieties, which are determined under a microscope:

Adenocarcinoma- an abnormal process that occurs in the epithelial cells responsible for the production of fluid and mucus. Most types of oncological diseases of the breast and prostate glands, as well as the colon, intestines and stomach are represented precisely.

Cancer tumor ‒photo breast adenocarcinoma in women:

Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer that forms in the base layer of the epidermis (skin), such as the outer layer of the skin of the face.

Squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma: Cancer formation is formed in squamous epithelial cells that are located directly under the outer surface of the skin. Under a microscope, they look flat, like fish scales. Externally, the cells appear as thick, rough, scaly patches that may bleed. Sometimes it looks like warts. A cancerous tumor can affect both internal and external organs: the stomach, intestines, bladder, kidneys, cervix, mucous membranes, mouth, throat, lungs, anus.

transitional cancer formed in transitional epithelial tissue (urothelium). It consists of many layers of epithelial cells. Most often found in the bladder, ureter, some parts of the kidney (renal pelvis).

Sarcoma

Cancer that occurs in bones and soft tissues, including muscle, fat, blood and lymphatic vessels, and fibrous tissue (eg, tendons, ligaments, cartilage). Osteosarcoma among other types of sarcomas is the most common. Other common types of soft tissue sarcoma include leiomyosarcoma, malignant fibrous sarcoma, liposarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma.

Leukemia

It begins in the hematopoietic tissue of the bone marrow. This type of cancer does not form solid tumors. Therefore, what atypical cells look like can only be established under a microscope. A large number of abnormal compounds accumulate in the blood and bone marrow, crowding out normal cells. Accordingly, the disease manifests itself with symptoms such as pale skin, difficulty breathing, frequent infections, anemia, fever and fatigue.

According to the speed of spread and the place of primary tumor formation, leukemia is divided into acute or chronic, lymphoblastic or myeloid.

Lymphoma

A cancer that starts in lymphocytes (T-cells or B-cells) that are responsible for the immune system's fight against infections. They accumulate in the lymph nodes as well as other organs of the body. The subspecies are:

Hodgkin's lymphoma: less aggressive cancer with a good prognosis. In most cases, it is represented by the defeat of B-cells.

Non-Hodgkin: the malignant process is represented by many subtypes of cancer that begin in both B cells and T cells.

multiple myeloma

Cancer that occurs in plasma cells. Abnormal tissues cluster in the bone marrow and form throughout the body.

Melanoma

Cancer that originates in melanocytes. These cells are responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. Most melanomas form on the skin, but they can also affect other pigmented tissues, such as the eyes.

Leading specialists of clinics abroad

What does cancer look like melanoma:

Tumors of the brain and spinal cord

They differ depending on the cells in which they are originally formed and their location in the central nervous system.

germ cell tumors

They develop in the testes in men and in the ovaries in women.

germinogenic cancer tumor–photo:

Neuroendocrine tumors

Formed from cells that release hormones into the blood. They occur in those cases where there is no reaction of the nervous system. They cannot be identified without some research. The formation of neuroendocrine tumors is often indicated by an increased amount of hormones.

Carcinoid tumors

They represent the formation of the neuroendocrine system. These are slowly growing formations of the gastrointestinal tract (mainly the rectum and intestines). They tend to release a substance called serotonin or prostaglandin, resulting in the carcinoid syndrome.

blastoma

- tumors formed from embryonic tissues or immature cells. Photo

More common in children than in adults. Depending on the location, there are:

medulloblastoma and - types of brain tumors;
- cancer formation in the retina;
osteoblastoma, a type of bone tumor;
- childhood damage to the nervous system.

Photographs and photographs that clearly show cancer tumor help to quickly and reliably establish certain symptoms of cancer and the final diagnosis.

Among all cancers, skin cancer is perhaps the most frivolous attitude of many. Not all people realize how dangerous it can be. But very often skin cancer can be recognized in the early stages, when it is very easy to cure. Therefore, when you see unusual formations on your skin, you should immediately go to the doctor. But in what cases is there cause for concern, and in what cases not?

There are many varieties of malignant skin tumors, and all of them differ significantly both in nature and in the severity of the course of the disease. Some types of skin cancer are very rare or occur in certain populations, while others can affect people of different sexes and ages.

Unlike some other types of cancer, which can develop latently in the early stages without any symptoms, skin cancer in the early stages is usually easy to notice. After all, the surface of the skin is almost always available for visual review. And this means that a person is able to pay attention to the degenerated tissue.

Risk factors

Why does cancer develop, particularly on the skin? Medicine does not have a clear answer to this question. Undoubtedly, far from one unfavorable factor plays a role here, but at once their combination. According to scientists, the following circumstances contribute most to the occurrence of tumors:

smoking;
Unhealthy Lifestyle;
non-compliance with personal hygiene;
unhealthy diet, consumption of large amounts of potentially carcinogenic foods and insufficient amounts of vitamins and fiber in the diet;
injuries and wounds of the skin surface;
hereditary factors;
racial features;
prolonged exposure to sunlight;
frequent use of solariums;
exposure to ionizing radiation;
prolonged contact with potentially carcinogenic substances (soot, fuel oil, benzene, coal tar, oil, etc.);
outdoor work;
old age (over 50 years);
long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants;
low level of immunity;
high incidence of other types of skin pathologies;
prolonged exposure to high temperature;
precancerous skin conditions (facultative and obligate);
systemic lupus erythematosus;
AIDS;
chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other cancers;
hormonal changes (including during pregnancy);

For different types of skin cancer, the proportion of individual factors may vary. For example, some species may appear almost exclusively in old age. However, one way or another, almost all types of skin cancer are observed mainly in adulthood. Cases in children are relatively rare. The frequency of other types of malignant tumors varies greatly depending on racial and gender factors.

What does skin cancer look like?

Different types of skin cancer may look different. However, regardless of what kind of skin cancer a person has, the symptoms of the disease can be similar:

burning and itching,
pain,
bleeding,
red border around the tumor.

Phenomena such as darkening of a previously light skin area, long-term ulceration of the surface, enlargement and soreness of the lymph nodes near the site of the neoplasm, thickening of the skin area with its rise above the surface should also be alarming. Soreness of skin formations may indicate the germination of the tumor in the deep, subcutaneous layers of tissues or the addition of secondary inflammatory processes.

What to do if suspicious signs are found? First of all, in no case should you postpone a visit to the doctor. After all, the sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of a successful outcome.

The first signs of skin cancer on the body (initial stage)

Malignant neoplasms of the skin are diverse. Their main groups are:

non-melanoma tumors - basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer - develop from skin epithelial cells;
melanoma;
skin appendage tumors;
other neoplasms.

Let us describe the first signs of skin cancer of the most common types of malignant tumors.

Basal cell skin cancer

Basal cell skin cancer (synonyms - basal cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma of Crompecher) develops from the cells of the basal layer of the skin epithelium.

This type of skin cancer is the most common (about 75% of cases). However, in most cases, only older people (over 60 years old) get sick with it. Of all types of skin cancer, basalioma has the slowest development and the most favorable prognosis. The basalioma is located, as a rule, on the skin of the face, most often on the following surfaces:

Basalioma can also occur on the ears and neck. Growing to a large size, it can grow through the skin and underlying tissues and cause damage. Due to the fact that the basalioma grows slowly, patients do not immediately go to the doctor with it.

Basalioma usually occurs suddenly, without any precancerous precursors, unlike squamous cell skin cancer. The onset tumor is usually 2 cm in diameter and is easily injured and bleeds.

Unlike other types of skin tumors, basalioma rarely metastasizes. In principle, this type of tumor is something between benign and malignant tumors. However, according to histological features, it still refers to malignant tumors. The prognosis for this category of skin tumors is favorable.

Dangerous in this type of skin cancer are cases when the localization of the pathology occurs around the eyes, in the folds above the lip, around the external auditory canal, in the posterior groove of the auricle. In these places, the tumor grows deep, damaging bone tissue, muscles, and the brain.

However, with early detection, timely treatment and removal of the tumor, the patient can get rid of this disease without consequences.

There are about 20 types of malignant cells in basalioma skin cancer. The most common clinical forms are:

nodal;
superficial;
scleroderma-like;
cystic;
fibroepithelial.

The symptoms and signs of each type of basal cancer are different. And most often in one patient the forms are combined. Diagnosis requires a clinical examination by a medical specialist.

Nodular (nodular, solid) basalioma

Appears on the scalp, neck. This skin cancer in the initial stage is characterized by the appearance of dense nodules of small size (2 - 5 mm), which gradually merge with each other. The tumor grows slowly, then disintegrates, forming a deep ulcer with ridge-like edges, covered with purulent-necrotic crusts.

Pigmented cells of the tumor may be translucent, and may vary from slightly brown to black.

Superficial basalioma

Usually located on the trunk, arms and legs. It looks like a rounded pink spot. At the initial stage, it flakes off, and with development, papilloma growths and ulcerations appear on its surface.

This skin cancer is not aggressive and has the most favorable prognosis: skin lesions develop very slowly, over decades.

Scleroderma-like (flat, morphea-like, sclerosing) basalioma

A rare but rather aggressive skin cancer. The tumor is located deep in the layers of the skin and is much larger in volume than the external signs on the surface. There are many cases of recurrence of the disease.

Basically, the symptoms of this type of skin cancer are found on the head and neck. A pale pink plaque with raised edges and a pearly tint appears on the skin at the initial stage. In the later stages of development, the focus has the appearance of a depressed scar or patch.

Cystic basalioma

The form is called cystic, because the skin cancer of this type looks like a translucent nodule (like a cyst). Discovered by chance during a biopsy.

Fibroepithelial basalioma (Pincus fibroepithelioma)

Signs of this type of skin cancer are usually found on the lower back. It looks like a fibrous polyp on a flat or hemispherical stalk. This is a rare tumor formation. Has a favorable prognosis.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell skin cancer (synonyms - squamous cell carcinoma, squamous epithelioma, epidermoid cancer, spinocellular carcinoma) develops from skin keratinocytes.

This type of skin cancer is the third most common after basalioma and melanoma. It can affect people of any age, both adults and the elderly, both men and women.

Outwardly, the tumor in squamous cell carcinoma resembles a small sore, sometimes bleeding. Very often, the tumor is confused with the manifestation of some inflammatory skin diseases, dermatitis, burns. However, unlike these formations, the tumor does not decrease in size and grows.

This formation can be located in different parts of the body, but most often found at the junction of various skin surfaces - the corners of the eyes, mouth, lips, mucous membranes, genitals (Keira's disease), etc. Over time, the tumor may form metastases. However, they are most often observed on the skin near the primary tumor on the skin, or in the lymph nodes. With tumors located on the face, the defeat of the lymphatic system occurs most often. Signs of damage to the lymph nodes are their increase in size, their mobility and soreness. In the future, their disintegration is possible with simultaneous ulceration of the nearest skin. Metastases affect distant organs only in advanced cases of the disease.

The tumor, as a rule, is distinguished by slow development, which increases the chances that it can be recognized and treated in a timely manner. However, in the late stage of the disease, the survival rate of patients is low.

Squamous cell skin cancer at the initial stage is a formation in the form of a red seal, ulcer or bump with a diameter of about 2 cm. This formation can be easily injured. The trigger for the beginning of its development can be various factors, first of all, intense exposure of the skin to sunlight. At the site of the appearance of the formation, there can be both a healthy area of \u200b\u200bthe skin, as well as scars from burns, a chronic ulcer, and inflammation.

Squamous cell carcinoma is easily treatable in its early stages. For this purpose, surgical methods, radiation therapy, chemotherapy are used. However, chemotherapy in most cases is of an auxiliary nature.

Highly differentiated skin cancer is a type of squamous cell skin cancer. The precursor of this disease are such pathological formations as actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease.

With highly differentiated skin cancer, the tumor grows for a long time. It has a high density, horny growths and crusts on the surface. However, this skin tumor is similar to warts, solar keratosis, which can make it difficult to diagnose the disease.

Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, unlike highly differentiated, has a high growth rate and aggressive course. This is a soft formation that looks like a bump or ulcer. May bleed or hurt.

The five-year survival rate with timely removal of cancer cells is more than 50%, however, with the formation of metastases, it decreases to 30%.

Melanoma

This tumor develops on the basis of skin pigment cells - melanocytes. This type of cancer is relatively rare compared to basalioma (15% of all cases of skin cancer). However, it still takes second place after it, and if we take all cancers, then more than 1% of them are melanoma. Most often, women suffer from the disease, although the proportion of sick men is quite large. There is also a sharp increase in the likelihood of this type of skin cancer in people after 50 years of age.

Despite the relative improbability of developing this type of cancer, it is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer, and cancer in general. For reasons that are not entirely clear to science, the body's immune system reacts extremely poorly to melanoma, allowing the tumor to develop quite quickly - within weeks, and sometimes even several days, the tumor goes from cancer in the initial stage to the life-threatening stage. Also, the tumor is characterized by rapid metastasis in the early stages, and metastases can penetrate not only to the areas of the skin adjacent to the tumor, but also to the lymph nodes, as well as to organs distant from the tumor.

The prognosis of this type of tumor is extremely unfavorable. Only at the first stage of the disease, radical removal can lead to a cure. Also, the tumor tends to grow deep into the skin, going beyond its borders and penetrating into other tissues - muscles and cartilage. Melanoma deaths account for approximately 80% of all skin cancer deaths.

Outwardly, it looks like a small speck of uneven shape, only a few millimeters wide. Signs that allow you to identify the tumor at an early stage are its soreness and bleeding. The color of the formation is usually black or dark blue, rarely red. It may contain inclusions of a different color, such as white. The tumor also protrudes slightly above the surface of the skin, often ulcerated. Sometimes there is melanoma with a whitish surface, such tumors are especially difficult to diagnose at an early stage.

The size of the tumor can be different - from 2 mm to several cm. A characteristic symptom for identifying the malignancy of a neoplasm is rather its shape, color and accompanying symptoms - soreness, bleeding.

Often, the tumor is formed on a completely clean area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. However, usually pigmented spots on the skin, warts and moles - nevi are converted into melanoma. At the same time, age spots can change their color, shape and size, become asymmetric, acquire uneven or blurry edges. Also, the nevus can become red, darker, or, conversely, discolor. Next to the nevi, others may appear with a similar structure. Triggers for this transformation can be such factors as injury to benign skin tumors, exposure of the skin to a large dose of sunlight, skin interaction with carcinogenic chemicals.

Some areas of the skin are more likely to develop melanoma than others. These areas include the face, chest, and limbs. Less commonly, melanoma occurs on the skin of the feet and toes, palms. The occurrence of a tumor on the mucous membranes is not excluded - the conjunctiva of the eyes, the mucous membrane of the mouth, even in the vagina and anus (needless to say, such tumor localizations are extremely unlikely to be detected).

A type of melanoma is lentigo melanoma. It grows for a relatively long time, but in appearance it resembles solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, pigmented actinic keratosis and lichen planus. The appearance of black nodules in formations of this type indicates their transition to the next stage.

Most often, this type of tumor occurs in people with fair skin, with a small amount of melanin, especially if they live in the southern regions, where there is a lot of bright sun. Caucasians suffer from melanoma much more often than indigenous people of the African continent.

Melanoma, like other malignant skin tumors, is usually treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy methods may also be used.

In oncology, the following classification of melanoma stages is used:

Tumors of the skin appendages

Other types of skin cancer are much less common and account for a fraction of a percent of all skin cancers. These can be tumors of the sweat and sebaceous glands (adenocarcinoma), tumors from the tissues that make up the follicles, skin metastases from other neoplasms. To determine the type of tumor in these cases is possible only with the help of diagnostic procedures - MRI, computed tomography and biopsy.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a fairly rare type of skin cancer. It develops from glandular cells (sweat and sebaceous glands), grows slowly. It looks like a dense nodule of blue-violet color or a papule rising above the skin, it is formed in the armpit, in the groin, under the mammary glands in women.

The node is characterized by slow growth, but in some cases it can reach large sizes (8-10 cm). Germination deep into the skin tissue and the detection of metastases is rare. After removal, a recurrence of the tumor in the same place is possible.

Verrucous carcinoma

Verrucous skin carcinoma is a rare type of tumor, a type of squamous cell carcinoma. Appears on the skin of the hands, looks like a wart, which makes it difficult to correctly diagnose in the early stages of the disease. However, these formations can bleed, which allows you to pay attention to them in time.

Precancerous skin conditions

There are obligate precancerous skin diseases - those that are converted into malignant tumors with a 100% probability (the only question is time),

These include:

Paget's disease
bowen disease,
erythroplasia Queira,
pigmented xeroderma.

Facultative forms of precancerous skin diseases are those that often turn into malignant ones, but not always.

These include:

chronic dermatitis of various etiologies;
keratoacanthoma;
senile dyskeratosis;
chronic trophic ulcers;
post-burn scars;
giant nevus;
complex pigmented nevus;
nevus of Ota;
dysplastic nevus;
moles, papillomas and warts, subject to their constant trauma.

Bowen's disease

Bowen's disease is a cancer in the initial stage, in which tumor cells do not germinate through the epidermis. Outwardly, the disease looks like scaly red plaques covered with crusts. May resemble eczema or psoriasis, a fungal skin disease. The size of the formation in the initial stage is approximately 2 cm.

Paget's disease is similar in appearance to Bowen's disease. Tumors of this type are most often located near the nipples and on the genitals.

Skin horn

Skin horn is a pathological process that almost always turns into squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer, its initial stage looks like a small red spot or bump with horny scales. Over time, a yellow skin growth may begin to form, which gradually becomes higher and higher. However, this type of tumor on the skin is rare, mainly in older people.

Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthoma is considered a precancerous condition that can quite often transform into a squamous cell type of skin cancer. It has a hemispherical shape with a diameter of 0.5 to 2 cm. It can appear and grow to a large size in a few weeks. This skin tumor is dense and rough, and may also have a yellow growth.

actinic keratosis

Actinic (solar) keratosis is a precancerous skin disease that in 20% of cases turns into a malignant squamous cell tumor. Typically, tumors in this form of the disease are located in groups, which increases the chances of their malignancy (degeneration into malignant tumors). Outwardly, they look like flat, red, scaly plaques on the skin, often covered with yellow crusts. They are easily confused with senile keratomas. They are usually found on the head, neck, or arms.

Dysplastic nevus

A dysplastic nevus is a benign formation on the skin that has a high risk of degeneration into a malignant one. Signs of a dysplastic nevus, which distinguishes it from ordinary moles, are the lack of symmetry in its shape, jagged edges, etc. The larger the size of the nevus, the more likely it is to regenerate. Especially dangerous are nevi with dark patches.

Diagnosis of the disease

Determining the type of neoplasm on the skin and the features of its development is not an easy task. It is also necessary to establish how strongly neighboring organs are involved in the pathological process. Of course, the mere analysis of the patient's complaints and anamnesis will not be enough here.

The most important diagnostic method is a biopsy - taking a piece of tissue for analysis, followed by microscopic examination. In the event that not only the skin, but also the lymph nodes are affected, it is necessary to take biological material from them for examination. In many cases, radioisotope methods and thermography are informative.

Procedures such as X-rays of the lungs, urography, abdominal ultrasound, MRI or CT of the brain and kidneys, general blood and urine tests are also done. All this is necessary to determine the stage of the disease.

Treatment

The method of treating skin cancer largely depends on its type, stage, location of the tumor, etc. Most often resort to surgical treatment. Sometimes the tumor can be removed with the help of such methods as cryodestruction, laser destruction, etc. During the operation, not only the tumor itself is removed, but also a strip of adjacent skin tissue up to 2 cm wide. If not only the skin, but also the lymph nodes are affected, they must also be removed.

With sufficiently large tumors (more than 2 cm), local skin irradiation can be applied after removal of the formation. Total body irradiation is used to prevent metastases. Chemotherapy is used as an adjunct treatment.

What does cancer look like? What he really is? These and many other questions are asked not only by those who are already sick, but also by those who have not been affected by this terrible disease. Let's consider everything in order.

Cancer is a multi-stage disease that is not easy to detect due to typical symptoms and signs. It should not be forgotten that many types of tumors cannot be recognized visually. Internal oncological diseases can be detected by laboratory tests, namely cytological (cellular) and histological (tissue) analyzes. But the process of development of malignant tumors can be indicated by individual visible signs of a state of health.

A cancerous tumor compresses nearby organs, blood vessels and nerves, and is also able to move to other tissues as it develops. Some types of cancer have clear characteristics and images through which an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Today, more than 100 types of cancer are known. All of them are associated with a specific organ or tissue. They are distinguished based on the type of cancer cells.

Types of cancerous tumors:

Carcinoma;
Sarcoma;
Leukemia;
Lymphomas and;
Cancer of the brain and spinal cord.

One of the most common oncological diseases is. It is formed in the epithelial cells that cover the surface of the body and internal organs. This ailment today is in second place after cardiovascular diseases.

Leading clinics in Israel

There are the following types of carcinoma:

Deterioration of well-being, namely weight loss caused by a decrease in appetite, weakness;
Reduced performance;
Anemia causing dizziness, fainting and general malaise;
Decrease in the body's resistance to infections, that is, a decrease in immunity as a result of the progression of a cancerous tumor;
Increased sweating, which can lead to dehydration;
Discoloration of the skin: yellowing, darkening or redness, ulceration;
Persistent unexplained fevers;
Frequent rises in body temperature;
unexplained bleeding or bruising;
Pain, often appearing in the last stages of the disease.

* Having received data on the patient's disease, a clinic representative will be able to calculate the exact price for treatment.

Video: What cancer looks like

Organs affected by cancer are treated in a number of ways:

surgery. During surgery, the surgeon removes the cancer from the patient's body. This method is sufficient if an oncological tumor is detected.
radiation therapy, or irradiation. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Chemotherapy is an effective way to fight cancer. The drugs used inhibit the development of cancer cells.
immunotherapy – helps the immune system fight cancer. With this method, special vaccines are used that restore the protective ability of the body. This method can be used both independently and in conjunction with others.
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancer through the use of hormonal medicines.
Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in cancer patients.

Precision medicine is an approach to cancer that allows doctors to choose treatments that are most likely to help patients.

Some people with cancer will only have one type of treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs or symptoms that indicate cancer. If they are not, but you are concerned about your health, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Find out what tests and procedures you need to have.

Oncology of the skin of malignant origin is a formation that forms from the cells of the skin epithelium. Pathology has no specific preferences and is diagnosed in patients of different age and gender groups.

However, scientists note some regularity in the development of such oncology in people with a light skin tone over 60 years of age, who are in the sun for a long time. Although theoretically, skin cancer can develop from any mole, regardless of its location. For this, the presence of at least one malignant cell is sufficient in the mole.

Skin cancer classification

Skin cancer has several classifications according to structural differences, histological features, morphological features, etc.

Kinds

There are such types of skin cancer:

Cellular cancer or - a similar oncological form is formed from melanocytes rarely metastasizes, but can release processes, penetrating into the circulatory and lymphatic systems. If this happens, then the melanoma will quickly spread throughout the organs, and the patient's survival will probably not exceed a year;

The photo clearly shows what the initial (1) stage of melanoma, skin cancer on the face looks like

- this type of cancer is widespread (75%), is characterized by a tendency to relapse, but practically does not allow metastasis. Education is characterized by slow growth. For localization, it often chooses the scalp or epidermis, it can be multiple or single. Basal cancer is a formation of a dark red or pinkish shade of a round shape that slightly protrudes above the skin.

The photo shows a basal skin cancer on the scalp, nose, arm and leg.

- this type of cancer can be localized on any part of the skin, however, most often it develops in open areas and the lower lip. Education does not have a special selectivity regarding gender, but prefers patients of retirement age. Squamous cell carcinoma is a formation of a nodular nature, with the development of the tumor practically loses its mobility and becomes bleeding.

Rare varieties

Specialists separately classified relatively rare skin cancers (less than 1% of cases):

- localized mainly on the limbs and trunk, growing from connective tissue particles of the skin. It can manifest itself in several variants - bulging dermatofibrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, etc .;
Merkel cell oncology is a tumor localized mainly on the head or face of elderly patients, and in half of the cases the neoplasm gives multiple distant metastases.

Forms

Oncologists distinguish such cancerous forms:

Papillary form- is considered the rarest form of skin cancer, is a tuberous formation, covered with multiple papillae. Such a formation is prone to rapid metastasis and germination inside the body, which leads to the rapid exhaustion of the patient;
infiltrating- is an ulceration with a bumpy crust and dense edges. Such a neoplasm is characterized by rapid germination in neighboring tissues, which quickly leads to its immobility;
Superficial Oncology manifested by dense nodular neoplasms of a yellow-white hue, which subsequently degenerate into uneven plaques with a slight depression in the center.

Causes and risk factors

People who are at particular risk of developing skin tumors are:

in old age;
Light-skinned, with a genetically reduced content of melanin;
With melanoma-dangerous age spots;
Having;
Suffering;
With xeroderma pigmentosum;
Having inflammatory skin pathologies;
Suffering;
Long exposure to the sun;
Abusing visits to the solarium.

In addition to the risk group, doctors identify some other factors that contribute to the development of skin malignant oncology:

Complication against the background of dermatitis of radiation origin;
Chemical exposure to carcinogens, such as arsenic compounds, tar present in cigarettes, or lubricants;
Damage at the site of the old scar;
Radiation exposure;
The use of products containing carcinogenic substances such as nitrites, nitrates, marinades, smoked meats, preservatives and overly fatty foods;
Exposure to various kinds of thermal factors or thermal radiation;
Violation of the integrity of the mole;
Oncology at the site where there was previously a deep burn;
Abuse of tattooing;
Having hepatitis or HIV infection;
Living in southern countries.

How to identify a tumor at an early stage?

A characteristic sign of skin cancer is its preferred localization on the open body.

Among all cases of skin oncology, about 90% have just such localization, and most cases of tumors are observed on the face (more than 70%).

Symptoms of manifestations

Each form and type of skin cancer is characterized by a separate symptomatology, and identical skin oncology in individual patients proceeds differently. But there are also common primary manifestations of symptoms by which skin cancer is determined:

The appearance of a non-passing spot on the skin with fuzzy boundaries, gradually increasing in size;
The formation of a small sore that cannot be treated, which gradually becomes painful and bleeding;
The mole suddenly changed, became darker or changed structure;
An unusual nodular cone-like formation of a purple, red, pink or black hue has formed;
The formation of seals or hard formations that have a flaky or rough surface;
The formation of a white scar-like spot, which has a less elastic structure than the usual nearby tissues.

Symptoms of skin changes in children

Skin cancer affects pediatric patients relatively rarely (less than 1%). There are two types of cancer: squamous and basal cell.

Squamous cell is more often localized on the face, limbs, ears, hairy area on the head, forming against the background. Education allows metastases to nearby lymph nodes, distant metastasis is not observed.

In the photo, a child with xeroderma pigmentosa of the last stage is a rare type of skin cancer observed in children.

The picture shows a cancerous pigmented xeroderma of the skin of the face, with involvement of the eyes.

Basal cell skin cancer also prefers the surface of the face. Such an oncoform is a dense nodule, gradually causing the appearance of similar formations nearby, with which it merges, occupying ever larger areas.

stages

In the development of skin cancer, similarly to other oncologies, there is a corresponding staging.

1 stage- the initial stage of development of a skin tumor, which is characterized by its small size (no more than 2 cm). Skin cancer of the first stage is characterized by the absence of metastases and high mobility, it moves with the skin without difficulty, although its lower layers are affected. The prognosis of treatment at this stage is favorable, since most patients manage to completely recover from skin cancer.
2 stage- is characterized by an increase in the tumor up to 4 mm, although the cells of a malignant nature have not yet had time to reach the lymph nodes. In isolated cases, a metastasis is found next to the tumor in the lymph node. A feeling of soreness may be present in the area of the location of the neoplasm. This stage is characterized by a 50% five-year survival rate, but only if timely and adequate therapy is provided.
At 3 stages there is an active lesion of the lymph nodes, although metastases have not yet been observed in the organs. The tumor becomes bumpy and causes a lot of discomfort. Education at this stage already grows into the subcutaneous tissue, therefore, it loses its mobility. For this stage, five-year survival is observed in only a third of patients.
Education at 4 stages becomes large, covering large areas of the skin. The tumor grows inside the body, involving cartilage and bone tissue in cancerous processes. Usually at this stage, the neoplasm is characterized by bleeding, it poisons all body systems, spreading metastases through them. The liver usually suffers first, then the lungs. At this stage, the five-year survival rate is extremely low and does not exceed 20%.

Consequences

Each type of skin cancer is distinguished by its set of cells with different aggressiveness, and therefore such neoplasms behave differently.

What are the dangers of skin cancers?

Basalioma not prone to metastasis, characterized by slow growth, often found in the nose.
Squamous cell skin oncology, on the contrary, grows rapidly and metastasizes throughout the body.
The most dangerous form is melanoma, difficult to treat and often causing a lot of complications.

Diagnostics

The diagnostic process includes procedures like:

Positron emission tomography;
Laboratory blood tests, liver serology, etc.

How to cure pathology

The therapeutic process is complex. After identifying a specific type and stage of oncology, the doctor selects an adequate treatment plan. The main methods used in the treatment of skin cancer:

Surgical treatment is the removal of the tumor by an open method. It is used for oncology of the limbs, body or to get rid of metastases.
involves irradiation when surgical treatment is not feasible or with the re-development of oncology;
traditionally used to treat recurrent oncological forms, as well as for large tumors. The technique is based on the use of drugs that have a destructive effect on cancer cells. Often, with such treatment, a special anti-cancer ointment is used, which is shown to be applied to the tumor daily, for several weeks;
The photodynamic method is successfully used in the treatment of cancer localized in the upper skin layers. The technique is based on the use of a specialized drug applied to the oncology area, after which this area is subjected to light treatment, under the influence of which the applied drug is activated and destroys cancer cells;
Laser treatment successfully eliminates cancer cells using a highly active beam of beams;
The fulguration method involves the removal of cancer cells using special tools, after which the operation area is treated with current, which kills the remaining cancer cells;
Cryotherapy is justified only in the case of a shallow location of the tumor. The technique involves freezing the malignant material with liquid nitrogen.

Along with the above procedures, immunostimulating therapy is prescribed, which increases the body's resistance to cancer cells. For this, Interferon, 5-fluorouracil, Imiquimod, Aldesleukin, Dacarbazine and other drugs are prescribed.

Nutrition

Skin cancer requires a radical revision of the diet.

It is necessary to provide the body with a high content of retinol and carotene, contained mainly in dairy products, fish oil, eggs, carrots, green tea, corn, tomatoes, soybeans, etc.

There are many products that can inhibit the growth of malignant cells:

Survival prognosis

The practice of recent years shows that the prognosis for a five-year survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma of the initial forms is about 90%, and for its final stages, no more than 60%.

If the patient's body has responded adequately to anticancer treatment, then there may not be a relapse in the future.

For malignant melanoma, the prognosis is also good.

In the initial stages, the survival rate is kept at slightly more than 95%, and at the final stage - no more than 20%.

Metastasis and life expectancy

Most often with skin cancer, spreading throughout the body through the blood and lymphatic pathways. After surgical excision of melanoma, 9 out of a dozen patients develop metastases over a 5-year period, which are usually localized in the subcutaneous tissue and on the surface of the skin.

With such metastasis, the patient's life expectancy ranges from six months to one and a half years. If metastasis went to the internal organs or, then later the life expectancy of patients with skin cancer is reduced to 3-6 months.

Prevention

The main factor predisposing to oncology is UV radiation, so it is necessary to limit its harmful effects as much as possible.

Of course, it will not work to constantly avoid sunlight, but it is quite possible for everyone to limit themselves to tanning only during low solar activity. And it is better to abandon the solarium at least for the spring-summer period, when natural solar radiation is enough.

Video about the first signs of skin cancer:

Often, a cancerous tumor does not show any specific symptoms. Therefore, most people learn about a terrible diagnosis only when it is already very difficult, and sometimes completely impossible, to cope with the disease. And there is also such a category of citizens who, with any ailment, think about the worst and try to detect signs of cancer in themselves. Perhaps excessive vigilance is also useless, but if you really notice something is wrong in your condition, you should undergo a medical examination. Better to be safe!

Cancer: signs and symptoms

Diseases of this kind manifest themselves in different ways. But there are common signs of women and men. In general, three groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

Unsuccessful treatment of diseases. When you carry out enhanced therapy for any pathologies, whether it be a stomach ulcer, inflammation of the bladder or pneumonia, and there is no improvement for a long time, you should be wary. Perhaps this indicates the presence of a cancerous lesion.
small manifestations. Reduced efficiency, a constant feeling of discomfort, fatigue, a decrease in interest in the surrounding reality, unreasonable weight loss - all this can talk about oncology.
Tissue growth. If during a visual examination or palpation you find a deformation or asymmetry of some part of the body, you should be wary. Perhaps such a tumor is dangerous.

Now we will list the first symptoms of cancer, with the appearance of which it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Sudden weight loss. Many people at an early stage of the development of the disease begin to lose weight rapidly. If you lose more than five kilograms in a short time, visit your doctor immediately.
Increased temperature and fever. This symptom usually appears when the cancer has already spread widely. But it is he who can be the first call.
Fatigue and weakness. These are perhaps the most important first signs of cancer, characteristic of absolutely any type of cancer. However, many simply ignore them.
Pain in the bones. This symptom may indicate malignant neoplasms in the bone tissue.
Change in the quality and color of the skin cover. Dermatological signs, such as darkening, redness, yellowness of the skin, itching, and others, may indicate the presence of skin cancer or oncology of internal organs.
Changes in the size, color, thickness, shape of moles, as well as the occurrence of wounds or ulcers that are not amenable to therapy. Moles can transform into malignant tumors, so do not ignore such manifestations.
Violations of the functioning of the bladder and disorders of the stool. You should consult a specialist if you suffer from persistent constipation or, on the contrary, diarrhea. Changes such as pain during emptying, more frequent or rare urination should also alert.
Constant headache. This symptom may indicate the presence of a brain tumor.
Unusual discharge, bleeding. Blood impurities in feces, urine, vaginal bleeding in women - all this can be a manifestation of cancer.
Persistent cough, sore throat, hoarseness, and trouble swallowing and indigestion. If you find blood clots in your sputum when you cough, you should immediately visit a doctor, because you may have lung tissue cancer. Swallowing problems and digestive disorders are often not signs of cancer, but if they occur together, you can suspect a cancer of the pharynx, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of different types of cancer

Of course, in addition to general manifestations, there are specific signs of oncological diseases that are characteristic only for one or another variety. And still, even if you find any characteristic symptom, you should not immediately think that you have cancer. First visit a specialist, and then draw conclusions.

Stomach cancer

In the early stages of the disease, the signs are inaccurate and scarce. Often, not only patients, but the doctors themselves write off the symptoms that have appeared on gastritis. In this case, everything is limited to the appointment of medications, and a complete examination is not carried out. And yet, specialists who listen attentively to the complaints of patients sometimes catch the first signs of an oncological disease. These include:

The described first signs of oncology can manifest themselves both against the background of a previous stomach disease (for example, an ulcer), and against the background of absolute health. Only when a malignant tumor becomes widespread, vivid symptoms appear: persistent vomiting, intense pain radiating to the back, severe weakness, sallow skin color.

breast cancer

The first signs of oncology in women in this case are retraction and flattening of the nipple and bloody discharge from it. Pain is not a diagnostic symptom. With pain, it may be completely absent, but with mastopathy, on the contrary, it may have a pronounced character. Depending on what form the cancer has, the signs and symptoms will vary. So, with a mastitis-like form of the disease, the mammary gland greatly increases, swells and hurts. The skin becomes hot to the touch. The erysipelatous form is characterized by the sudden appearance of redness on the skin of the chest, as well as a significant increase in temperature. Shell oncology is manifested by a bumpy thickening of the skin. A kind of shell is formed, covering part of the chest, and sometimes its entirety.

Rectal cancer

As already mentioned, usually the signs of oncological diseases in the early stages are not particularly pronounced. Colon cancer is no exception. Symptoms that can be noticed: dull pain during bowel movements at the time of the passage of feces, mucus and blood in the stool, subsequently a ribbon-like stool. Such manifestations are often mistaken for signs of hemorrhoids. However, there is a difference: with hemorrhoids, blood in the feces usually appears at the beginning of a bowel movement, and with rectal cancer, at the end. At a later stage, constipation is added to the listed symptoms, followed by diarrhea, frequent urge to defecate, and discharge of fetid purulent-bloody masses.

Skin cancer

This type of oncology can also have different forms: ulcerative, nodular, infiltrative. However, often the first signs of skin cancer, regardless of form, are the same. Dense painless nodules of a waxy pinkish-yellowish color appear on the body. Gradually they grow. Very rarely there are forms with sluggish growth, which for many years do not show visible changes. But there are also such cases.

Lung cancer

Depending on where the primary tumor occurs, in the lung tissue or in the bronchus, the first signs of oncology will vary. In the case of central cancer (cancer of the bronchus), a hacking dry cough develops first, later sputum appears, often it has blood impurities. For this form of the disease, the causeless occurrence of pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung), accompanied by an increase in temperature, increased cough, general weakness, and in some cases chest pains, is very characteristic. Peripheral cancer, which originates in the lung tissue, is almost asymptomatic at the initial stage and is often detected during a preventive x-ray examination.

A brain tumor

Signs of oncological diseases of the brain are numerous, and they cannot be called specific. It is noteworthy that many neoplasms do not manifest themselves at all and are most often found only after death, at autopsy. This applies, for example, to a pituitary tumor. It should also be borne in mind that not all formations are malignant - benign tumors often appear in the same way as cancerous ones. The only way to check the nature of the symptoms present is to undergo an examination.

Symptoms in these types of oncology are associated with the pressure of the tumor on the brain and, in connection with this, a violation of its work. The signs are similar in both the primary and metastatic (when the neoplasm penetrates into other parts of the brain) stages and are characterized by weakness, headache, absent-mindedness, the appearance of convulsions and spasms, and difficulty in motor processes. Nausea and vomiting are also possible (especially in the morning), blurred vision, weakening of intellectual activity associated with impaired memory and concentration, a gradual decrease in mental activity, changes in emotional state, difficulty in speech processes. These symptoms, as a rule, do not appear immediately, so for a long time the disease may go unnoticed.

Finally

We have listed the signs of the main oncological diseases, but, of course, we have not touched on all types of cancer. There are a lot of them, and the symptoms in each case will be different. For example, the main manifestations of uterine cancer are bleeding and discharge in the form of whites from the vagina. The main symptom is pain when swallowing food, and the most common bladder symptom is blood in the urine. Do not be negligent about your health and immediately consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a terrible disease!