Skin Tumors

The largest organ of our body is the skin. Leather has a very complex structure. This complex includes a wide variety of cells and tissues. What we call tumors are masses originating from these cells or tissues. In other words, 'tumor = mass'. Skin tumors=masses can be benign or malignant.

BAD SKIN TUMORS

The main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet rays from the sun. Electric lamps that emit ultraviolet rays and artificial tanning light sources can also cause skin cancers. It is a known fact that the thinning of the ozone layer, which protects the world against ultraviolet rays, causes a serious increase in skin cancers.

Those most at risk:

• light skinned,
• Those who freckle easily on their skin,
• Having too many moles (nevi) and their different shapes and sizes,
• Those with a family history of skin cancer
• Those who spend a lot of time outdoors
• Those close to the equator, at high altitudes or exposed to intense sunlight throughout the year,
• Radioactive radiation therapy (radiotherapy) applications for any reason,
• Open wounds that remain unhealed for many years,
• Tar, pitch, arsenic etc. Chronic exposure to chemical carcinogens such as
• Skin cancers can also develop due to exposure to chronic micro-traumas.

Malignant skin tumors can be examined under 3 headings. Basal Cell Cancer (BCC) arising from basal cells in the epidermis, Squamous Cell Cancer (SCC) arising from squamous (squamous) cells, Malignant Melanoma (MM) arising from Melanocytes (melanin producing cells)

1. BCC; It is the most common skin cancer. It progresses slowly, does not spread throughout the body, and is rarely life-threatening. It creates regional destruction.
2. SCC; It is another common type of skin cancer. It is common on the lips, face and ears. It can spread to the lymph nodes and sometimes to the internal organs. SCC becomes life-threatening if left untreated.
3. MM; less common. Its incidence is increasing, especially in those living in sunny areas. It is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. However, if it is detected early, there is a chance that it can be fully cured. Delay in diagnosis and treatment is often fatal.

Basal and Squamous Cell Cancers can have various appearances. Generally:

• In the form of a small mass of white and pink color,
• Its surface is smooth, shiny or pitted,
• Dry, scaly, in the form of a red spot,
• Crusted, red, tuberous,
• In the form of small masses side by side with crustaceans,
• with capillaries on it,
• They can be in the form of a white patch that looks like a scar.

It is necessary to consider that these types of lesions that do not heal in 2-4 weeks, can cause bleeding and pain, may be cancer.
Malignant Melanoma can usually start from a mole or normal skin. The following changes that occur in any mole should be accepted as warning criteria for cancer.

• Asimetti
• Edge irregularity
• Being in different color tones
• crusting on
• Bleeding
• Itching
• redness around
• hair growth
• An abnormal or greater increase in size >6 mm.

Moles with one or more of these changes should be surgically removed and subjected to histopathological examination for Malignant Melanoma. If all these variables seem complicated to you, it is very important to remember that. Get to know your skin and inspect it regularly from head to toe. If you come across anything that makes you suspicious, consult a Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon immediately! Plastic Surgeons surgically remove the tumor without disturbing the functional structure and in a way that provides the most aesthetic appearance. With the histopathological examination of the removed tissue, it can be understood whether it can be completely removed and whether there is any residue on the ground.

How is the treatment?

Treatment varies according to the type of cancer, growth stage and location. If the cancer is small, the procedure can be easily performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia. In these small and less dangerous types, scraping (curettage) or removing cancer cells (dessiccation) with electric current can also be performed. However, these methods are less reliable in terms of treatment, and they are more likely to leave scars and deform. Major surgical procedures may be needed if the cancer is large, has spread to the lymph nodes or to another part of the body. Other possible treatment options in skin cancers are cryotherapy (freezing destruction of cancer cells), radiotherapy (radiation therapy), chemotherapy (administration of anticancer drugs).

1. Before starting treatment, you should evaluate these methods with your doctor and seek answers to the following questions.

• Which treatment method is safer in terms of destroying the tumor?
• Which option suits you better?
• How effective is it for your type of cancer?
• What are the possible risks and side effects?
• To what extent can the functional and cosmetic results you expect be achieved?
• It is necessary to apply the ideal treatment method, which emerges as a result of the answers, without delay. In delayed cases, it becomes difficult to provide complete treatment.

Benign SKIN TUMORS

Nevus (fleas), seborrheic keratosis, epidermoid cyst, dermatofibroma, lipoma, dermoid cyst, lentigo, pyogenic granuloma, verrue, milia, pilar cyst, syringoma,…etc. The number of benign skin tumors can be expressed in hundreds. That's why I want to talk about the general approach rather than what these tumors are. If a lesion does not grow, does not change color, does not show bleeding-scabbing-itching, if it has a regular border, it is likely to be benign. Whether a tumor is benign or malignant can be definitively determined by pathological examination, but an experienced physician can make this distinction largely without the need for pathology. It should not be forgotten that the most effective branches that can call a mass on the skin benign or malignant are Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery or Dermatology.

If there is a condition such as growth, bleeding, persistent itching, shape irregularity in benign skin tumors, it is absolutely necessary to remove them surgically and send them to pathology for examination. Benign skin tumors are not required to be surgically removed except for these changes. However, if it causes visual-aesthetic discomfort, it can be taken at the request of the patient. There is no harm in taking it. The expression, which is called "bears-increased" among the people, is completely unscientific and wrong. All that happens when a benign skin tumor is surgically removed is that you are rid of that tumor, nothing else.