Cancer - Health Library - Qoctor your online doctor https://www.qoctor.com.au Your Quick Online Doctor Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:16:29 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.1 Non-melanoma skin cancers (BCCs and SCCs) https://www.qoctor.com.au/non-melanoma-skin-cancers-bccs-and-sccs/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:10:27 +0000 https://www.qoctor.com.au/?p=526645 Non-melanoma skin cancers (BCCs and SCCs) There are two main types of non-melanoma skin cancers, called basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Melanoma skin cancers act very differently to non-melanoma skin cancers and will be addressed in another article. Book a [...]

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Non-melanoma skin cancers (BCCs and SCCs)

Authored by Dr Filip Vukasin on 05.07.2024
Medically Reviewed by Dr AIFRIC BOYLAN
Last updated on 10.07.2024

There are two main types of non-melanoma skin cancers, called basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Melanoma skin cancers act very differently to non-melanoma skin cancers and will be addressed in another article.

Doctor checking for non-melanoma skin cancers on a man's back
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Prevalence of skin cancer in Australia

Every year in Australia, skin cancers account for around 80% of newly diagnosed cancers. BCCs and SCCs are the most common cancers in Australia, but the majority are not life-threatening.

Approximately two-thirds of non-melanoma skin cancers are BCCs and a third are SCCs. Anyone can develop them, but they become more common as you age and the average age of diagnosis is 76.

Risk factors of non-melanoma skin cancers

BCCs and SCCs are most likely to occur in areas of the body that get high or intermittent sun exposure such as the arms, face, neck, chest, back, and legs. Other risk factors include:

  • Fair skin
  • High amount of unusual moles (dysplastic naevi)
  • Chemotherapy
  • Suppressed immune system, either from a medical condition or medication
  • Family history of skin cancer
  • Tanning beds/solariums

Characteristics of BCCs and SCCs

BCC Characteristics

  • Slow growth
  • Pearly edges and lump
  • Dry, scaly, and shiny spot

SCC Characteristics

  • Quick growing
  • Tender or sore
  • Non-healing wound
  • Thick, red, and scaly spot

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Diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancers

Sometimes it can be hard to know if a skin cancer is a BCC, SCC, or melanoma, and the only definitive way of knowing is to take a biopsy. This can include taking a part of the lesion or cutting out the whole lesion. A biopsy is usually done with local anesthetic so that the area is numb. Your doctor may use a scalpel or a punch biopsy, which looks like a pen and has a sharp circle that cuts into the skin.

The biopsy will be examined and leads to staging of the skin cancer, which means it will define if the BCC or SCC is only superficial (in the skin), or whether it has metastasised to another part of the body. Metastasis for non-melanoma skin cancers is rare.

Mother applying sunscreen on child's face to protect against skin cancers
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Treatment options of non-melanoma skin cancers

Often, if the biopsy has cut the whole lesion out then the skin cancer has been cured. This means you may be diagnosed with a BCC or SCC and have it cured on the same day. Other treatments for BCCs and SCCs may involve:

-Liquid nitrogen, which causes a chemical burn to the skin cancer.

-Topical medications such as imiquimoid and 5-fluorouracil. These creams or gels attack or kill cancerous cells and are a type of chemotherapy.

-Radiotherapy, which uses x-rays to kill cancer cells. This method is usually for skin cancers that are in tricky areas, such as near eyes.

-Surgery involves cutting the whole skin cancer out. This is often done under local anaesthetic as part of the biopsy procedure, so you are awake. If it is a large lesion or if it requires complex plastic surgery due to being on tricky areas in the body, you may need to return for more surgery and/or it can be done under general anaesthetic (asleep).

Impact and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancers

Although most BCCs and SCCs will not cause death, they can cause stress and physical deformity. Some can affect surrounding tissue and so if they grow near your eyes, lips, or nose, they can affect those senses. Treatments may also lead to scars and pain, particularly if the skin cancers are large or complex.

Both BCCs and SCCs can be prevented by avoiding intense sunshine and UV light. This can include using sunscreen, staying in shade, avoiding peak UV exposure times, wearing long sleeves and pants, and sunglasses. You can also have a regular skin check through your regular doctor to pick up any early lesions and discuss skin care.

References

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]]> Radiation exposure from X-rays https://www.qoctor.com.au/radiation-from-xrays/ Thu, 21 Mar 2019 11:19:35 +0000 https://www.qoctor.com.au/?p=52061 How much radiation is in an X-ray? Are X-rays dangerous?  And what about other scans? This article is not meant to scare you. Every day medical imaging improves and even saves lives. The imaging tests your doctor requests are usually essential Each time you have an X-ray or a CT scan [...]

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How much radiation is in an X-ray?

Authored by Dr Aifric Boylan on 21.03.2019
Medically Reviewed by Dr Ali Zavery
Last updated on 14.06.2024

Are X-rays dangerous?  And what about other scans?

This article is not meant to scare you. Every day medical imaging improves and even saves lives. The imaging tests your doctor requests are usually essential

  • Each time you have an X-ray or a CT scan it exposes you to radiation
  • This is a subject that is rarely mentioned by doctors when organising these tests
  • It’s an accepted part of everyday practice to organise imaging without always talking about radiation – even though it really ought to be discussed
  • This article explains the risks of different types of imaging

are xrays dangerous?

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What is radiation?

  • Radiation is the movement of invisible particles or waves full of energy that can pass at great speed through solid objects such as your body
  • X-rays and CT scans work by measuring how these move through your body – effectively detecting how many are absorbed by your bones and soft tissues and how many are not
  • Every day you’re exposed to “background radiation”
    • You can’t avoid it because it’s all around you in the natural world
    • It’s equivalent to about 1 chest X-ray every 15 days

How much radiation is in an X-ray? What about other types of scans?

  • Radiation is measured in units called “millisieverts”, which is abbreviated to “mSv”
  • The background radiation you’re exposed to is, on average, about 2.5mSv per year
    • This varies from place to place
  • Ultrasound scans
    • Zero radiation exposure
  • MRI scans
    • Zero radiation exposure
  • Radiation from X-rays 
    • An arm, a leg or a joint: 0.001 mSv, or 0.15 days of background radiation
    • Dental: 0.01 (1.5 days)
    • Chest: 0.1 (15 days)
    • Mammogram 0.4 (58 days)
    • Abdomen 0.7 (102 days)
    • Lumbar spine: 1.5 (219 days)
  • Bone density scan (DEXA): 0.001 (0.15 days)
  • Radiation from CT scans
    • Head: 2  (292 days)
    • Spine: 6 (2.4 years)
    • Pelvis: 6 (2.4 years)
    • Chest: 7 (2.8 years)
    • Abdomen: 8 (3.2 years)
    • Angiogram: 16 (6.4 years)
    • Whole body: More than 20  (More than 8 years)
  • Nuclear cardiac stress test: 40.7 (16.3 years)
  • If your investigation is not on this list, your doctor should be happy to discuss the radiation exposure with you

What are the risks of radiation?

  • It’s thought that all radiation causes damage to the cells of your body
  • The low-level background radiation and small additional doses don’t usually amount to enough to do any significant harm
  • As explained above, you can’t avoid all radiation
  • You can, however, limit your exposure
  • Repeated or large exposures to radiation probably build up to increase the risk of damage to your cells
  • Damage to your cells leads to an increased risk of developing cancer over time
  • The exact risks of radiation from X-rays or other types of imaging are hard to quantify
  • An Australian study from 2013 found that for every 1800 children (age under 20) given a CT scan an additional 1 cancer case occurred within 10 years of the scan
    • i.e. 1 in 1800 CT scans in children will cause a cancer within 10 years

What types of cancer can radiation cause?

Our understanding mainly comes from studying survivors of the radiation released by the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and by the nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl. Radiation exposure is linked to an increased risk of:

  • Certain types of leukaemia
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Oesophageal cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Certain types of skin cancer

Should I have my imaging test done?

  • You should not go to clinics looking to get imaging investigations – they should only ever be done if there is a specific reason to investigate
  • You should be more wary of imaging if you’re pregnant
    • There is a higher risk of radiation to the fetus than to an adult
    • This is most significant before 20 weeks of pregnancy
    • Where possible, you should cover your tummy with a lead apron during the imaging
  • Radiation is more harmful to children than to adults
  • Some imaging tests are essential and even life-saving
  • If you’re in doubt that the test you have planned is essential, you should feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your doctor

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