Skin Cancer
Ultraviolet radiation penetrates the superficial layers of the skin, and its energy is absorbed by the nucleotides of DNA. This can cause abnormalities in the structure of DNA that result in mutations that interfere with regulation of cell division. For example, p53 is a tumor suppressor that has been found to be rendered inoperable because of mutations in about 50% of skin cancers. UV light is the most significant source of mutagenic non-ionizing radiation and is responsible for most skin cancers.
Melanomas and Basal/Squamous
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a good web site providing an array of information about sun damage and skin cancer. See NIH Senior Health.
Identifying Skin Cancers: Click on the Photo Album Activity below to see a rogues gallery of skin cancers.
 |
Turn the pages by clicking on the right or left side of each page to view images of skin cancers. |
|
This content requires JavaScript enabled.
|
|
Identifying Skin Cancers
(Length: 6:46)
Basal Cell Carcinoma
From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (3:00):
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (3:11)
Melanoma
From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1 minute)
Pre-Cancerous Skin Lesions
From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1:05)
Ten Tips on How to Avoid Skin Cancer
From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (3:08)
|
The ABCDEs of Skin Cancer Detection Click the card deck to view a card. Drag the card from the bottom to the correct category. |
|
This content requires JavaScript enabled.
|
|
ABDEs of skin cancer detection handout