You already know skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting 3 million people each year. With more than 3,000 known forms of skin cancer, it can be hard to know exactly what to look for when your child comes to talk to you about a suspicious spot. Today’s children spend much more time exposed to the sun’s harmful rays than generations past, which puts them at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
Childhood cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and with it comes a myriad of emotional, physical, financial, and social challenges. Children with cancer face serious health risks, as well as alternative therapies and treatments that are experimental, expensive, and invasive. The good news is that most children diagnosed with cancer are cured, which is why the goal of treatment almost always cures, not treatment.
What Is the Frequency of Childhood Skin Cancer?
Childhood and teen skin cancer are on the rise, and your doctor might mention this to parents. But what’s normal and what isn’t? What are the risk factors? And how are parents – even if they’re diligent about sunscreen – supposed to protect their children?
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and while it is less common in adults, it is still common. Frequent sunburns, sun exposure to indoor tanning beds, use of tanning beds, and ignoring warning signs (red and scaly patches, sores) can put you at risk for skin cancer. Knowing the risk factors for skin cancer may help you reduce the chance of it developing in the future.
Types of Skin Cancer in Kids
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Children develop many types of skin cancer, but squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common. This cancer starts in the squamous cells (on the surface of the skin) in young children. It can spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma usually develops on the scalp, ears, nose, or lips of children 10 and under.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
This Basal Cell Carcinoma is among the most common skin cancer type. It develops from cells of the skin’s outer layers and tends to run in families. This cancerous growth appears as a pearly bump or a small, red, and raised area. Symptoms include a small, hard, scaly, or pearly bump or lump on the skin.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that is on the rise among children, primarily because many people don’t realize that it can also form in kids and don’t look out for the symptoms.
Eczema
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that typically occurs in infants and children. The skin affected with eczema may have red, scaly, or raised patches. The cheeks, forehead, neck, groin, and other areas of the body most prone to eczema are most often affected. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed.
What Children Are at Risk for Skin Cancer?
Anyone can get some degree of sunburn, but children especially can be vulnerable to the effects of the sun. Babies and toddlers are especially susceptible, and without proper amounts of protection, sunburns can result in painful, blistering skin blisters. The best way to protect your children against sunburn is to limit their time in the sun and protect them with appropriate sunscreen.
If you’re a parent, you know how important it is to keep an eye on kids’ skin for potential problems. Sunscreen is an obvious must-have for little ones, but what about adults? While it’s very unlikely that adults will get skin cancer from sun exposure, it’s important to know what types of skin cancer to look out for, especially if you have a family history.
What Are Skin Cancer Treatments Available for Children?
If your child develops a skin lesion that fades or disappears over time, it’s likely a kind of basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer with an annual incidence rate of about 5%. This cancer generally grows slowly and doesn’t metastasize, but your doctor may want to monitor its appearance carefully. Fortunately, there are several options for treatment, depending on the exact nature of your child’s condition.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family tends to go through major life changes. On top of dealing with the stresses that come with having a sick child, parents also must go through the painful process of treating their child’s cancer.
As a parent, discovering that your child has been diagnosed with skin cancer can be an incredibly overwhelming and frightening experience. However, it’s essential to know that there are treatment options available, and radiology plays a significant role in addressing this concern with sensitivity and precision. Radiation therapy, carried out by professionals found on sites like amethyst-radiotherapy.com (and similar others), utilizes high-energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In the case of skin cancer in children, radiation therapy may be recommended by healthcare professionals as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
In addition to radiation therapy, there are several other treatment options available for skin cancer in children, each tailored to the specific type and stage of the cancer. Surgical excision is often used to remove cancerous lesions, ensuring complete removal and reducing the risk of recurrence. For more advanced cases, chemotherapy may be recommended to target cancer cells throughout the body. Immunotherapy, which boosts the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, has also shown promising results in treating certain types of skin cancer.
The diagnosis of skin cancer in children is unfortunate, but the new field of pediatric oncology is finding new ways to treat and correct these tumors. Treatments for skin cancer in children include surgery, radiation, topical creams, and immunotherapy. The treatment that is appropriate for each child depends on the size of the tumor, its location, and overall health.
If parents suspect their child has skin cancer, they should see a board-certified dermatologist, not a pediatrician or family doctor. These doctors should perform a biopsy of the affected area. Dermatologists may also recommend further testing, such as a skin sample taken during a skin exam or a skin scraping with a brush.