Skin Cancer Articles
Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to skin cancer including topics such as skin cancer prevention, skin cancer, and skin cancer treatment. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Information
This eMedTV article discusses skin cancer in detail, including causes, symptoms, and treatment. This, the most common cancer in the United States, begins in the epidermis, which has three kinds of cells: squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes.
The percentage of people who develop melanoma in the United States has doubled in the past 30 years. This eMedTV article offers an in-depth look at this increasingly common condition, including risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
This eMedTV segment discusses basal cell carcinoma in detail, including treatment options, prognosis, and tips to prevent it. This is the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for 90 percent of all cases in the United States.
This eMedTV resource discusses squamous cell carcinoma in detail, including treatment options and prognosis. Despite a fatality rate of less than 1 percent, prompt treatment is necessary to keep the cancer from invading and destroying nearby tissue.
Basal cell and squamous cell are the two most common skin cancer types, which this eMedTV article describes in detail. Other, less common types discussed in this article include melanoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma.
This page on the eMedTV Web site describes melanoma symptoms in detail. Thinking of "ABCD" can help you to remember them: asymmetry, border, color, and diameter. Differences between early and advanced symptoms are also discussed.
For people with skin cancer, treatment options may include surgery, topical chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This eMedTV Web page discusses the factors that affect treatment for skin cancer and provides links to additional information.
This eMedTV page discusses skin cancer prevention in detail. It offers tips to increase protective factors (such as limiting exposure to UV radiation) and explains risk factors (such as having a fair complexion or previous history of skin cancer.)
Causes of skin cancer discussed in this eMedTV article include ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources, such as sunlamps or tanning beds. This article also offers tips to minimize the risk of developing the disease.
Merkel cell carcinoma tends to develop on or just beneath the skin's surface and in the hair follicles. This eMedTV article provides an overview of this rare form of cancer, including symptoms, treatment options, and the chances of it metastasizing.
This eMedTV article describes various potential causes of melanoma. While the exact causes are still unknown, risk factors for the condition include excessive sun exposure, a history of sunburns, and having more than 50 moles.
This eMedTV article describes various types of skin cancer surgery in detail, such as excisional surgery, Mohs surgery, cryosurgery, laser surgery, dermabrasion, and grafts. Possible side effects and what to expect regarding scars are also discussed.
Malignant melanoma, as this eMedTV resource explains, is a type of cancer affecting pigment cells -- primarily those found in the skin. Risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options associated with the condition are also discussed in this article.
Choices for melanoma treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. This eMedTV Web page describes each of these treatment options in detail. Side effects and follow-up visits are also discussed.
This eMedTV article explores various areas of skin cancer research. This research has led to new treatments, such as photodynamic therapy. Also, participants in research studies have the first chance to benefit from these and other new treatments.
This section of the eMedTV library compares the various stages of melanoma. The stages range from 0 to IV and also include recurrent melanoma. They vary in size, location, and whether they have spread to lymph nodes or other areas of the body.