Final Paper: Skin Cancer

For my final paper, I've decided to focus on the issue of skin cancer --also known as skin neoplasms--not only because the topic interests me, but also because of my personal connection.  Currently, skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer; over 3.5 million cases occur annually in the United States.  These annual rates are increasing year by year, making it a major public health concern.  In fact, from 1998 to 2007, incidence of melanoma in the United States has increased significantly primarily in white males and females.  Incidence among men has increased 2.6% per year and 3.2% for women.  It has been estimated that half of all Americans above the age sixty-five will develop skin cancer at least once.  Although the incidence of many cancer in the U.S. is falling, incidence of melanoma continues to grow.  

There are three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, each named after the type of skin cell from which it arises.  Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms and are also less severe than melanoma form, which tends to metastasize.  Basal cell carcinoma usually presents itself as a raised, pinkish bump, sometimes with visible blood vessels.  Many times it is mistaken for a sore that does not heal, but this form is easily treatable and rarely leads to death.  Squamous cell carcinoma is slightly more dangerous, and it presents as a rapidly growing, thick reddened patch of skin.  In contrast, melanomas are much more aggressive and can be diagnosed using the 'ABCDE' method: Asymmetrical, Borders, Color, Diameter, Evolving.  

The primary and most widely known cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet light, usually from the sun and tanning beds.  Common risk factors include naturally light skin, family history of skin cancer, personal history of skin cancer, exposure to sun, light eyes, and light hair.  When ultraviolet (UV) rays come in contact with the skin's inner layers, it causes the skin to make more melanin, which moves toward the skin's surface resulting in a tan.  Tan skin may look good, but it does not indicate good health.  In fact, the tan is a response to cell injury.

I am light skinned and my dad had skin cancer, although fortunately his form of skin cancer was not a melanoma.  However, like most people (especially the younger crowd), I love to get a suntan and have gone to the tanning bed countless times.  Why?  Because society views tan skin as beautiful skin.  As a society, we ignore the risk factors thinking it will never happen to us, but the numbers don't lie.            

Problem Definition: Increased incidence of skin cancer among the white population of United States over the past decade has led skin cancer to be the most common form of cancer.