Skin cancer is most often seen in holders of gray and blue eyes, as well as light skin tones. This is due to the fact that they easily burn and are more prone to the appearance of freckles. To this list should be added those with white, red hair. Men and women get sick equally often. Black people practically do not suffer from skin cancer.
Causes of pathology
One of the common causes of cancer is radiation of various types. This may be ultraviolet or radioactive exposure. The first type appears in open areas of the skin, including on the legs. Some drugs and substances that have carcinogenic properties cause skin cancer. Injuries that contribute to scarring can be one of the causes of this disease. Sometimes it happens that skin cancer on the leg is transmitted at a genetic level. Chemicals that regularly affect the skin can cause tumors. Hormonal homeostasis, which undergoes changes as a result of any reason, can also cause cancer.
Clinical classification of skin cancer
Malignant tumors are divided into several types, depending on what cells they consist of and how they manifest.
Clinical classification implies a division into: superficial, infiltrative, papillary skin cancer. All three species can form on the leg.
Superficial cancer has clear signs. White nodules appear. They are on the same level with the skin, but sometimes they protrude. Their surface is either smooth or slightly rough. After a while, the tumor begins to get wet and an ulcer appears. The surrounding skin is pink, there are signs of an inflammatory process.
How to recognize skin cancer on the foot of the infiltrative type? The very first sign is nodules with small humps. They are dense, they do not affect the condition of the skin in the initial stage. This form is considered dangerous, since a tumor of this type quickly develops and metastases.
Papillary cancer also has humpy outgrowths. They grow in the internal tissues and can affect the surface layers of the skin.
Morphological classification
There is basal cell skin cancer, which is divided into subspecies, squamous and melanoma.
The first type most often occurs in old age and affects the skin of the face. There are exophytic (hard nodules developing on the surface of the dermis), superficial (plaque with the most distinct edges), ulcerative (either irregular in shape, or rounded outlines), cicatricial (flat scar located on the surface of the skin) cancer.
Squamous cell skin cancer on the leg is a node that has a yellow tint. Under it, an ulcer develops. Most often, the inflammation is so strong that infection occurs. This causes pain.
Melanoma is considered one of the most dangerous tumors. It can affect not only the surface of the skin, but also the inner layers.
Cancer stages
The process of tumor development is divided into 4 phases:
- If the tumor does not have 2 cm in diameter, then the disease is still in its initial stage. As a rule, such a formation does not pass into the deeper layers of the skin and does not allow metastases.
- The second phase of the disease is accompanied by the development of a tumor whose diameter is 4 cm. But it still does not affect the lymphatic connections. At this stage, painful sensations and the first signs of the disease may appear.
- The third stage is already more serious. The lymphatic system begins to transmit cancer cells, and they settle in the lymph nodes.
- The fourth stage is considered the most dangerous, since the tumor begins to reach the bones, penetrating into all layers of the skin. In addition, the development of oncology begins to affect even distant organs and tissues.
Signs of cancer
In the initial stages, skin cancer on the leg appears with minimal symptoms. But there are certain signs by which the development of the problem can be suspected.
On the skin, some strange thickening may appear, which previously was not. Sometimes wounds or cracks appear near the neoplasm. In addition, the tumor can bring uncomfortable sensations, for example, a little pain or itching. The mole, which has become the "base" for education, begins to change size (increase) and shape. The contours are asymmetric. Color may change, bumps, spots, peels or even papillomas appear. On palpation, seals are felt, which are fixed in the tissues.
Diagnostics
To confirm the development of skin cancer on the leg, some diagnostic measures are necessary. There are quite a lot of them, the doctor himself selects the most effective way for a particular patient.
A specialist must examine the tumor externally, using special magnifying glasses. Measures temperature. Takes a smear. To do this, attach a glass slide to the skin, which is not affected by the disease. Do this in several places. After this, the glass is examined under a microscope. In some cases, scraping is performed. With a wooden spatula, skin is taken for examination in the affected areas and then examined under a microscope.
To find out the nature of the tumor, a biopsy is done. A needle with a syringe is used. To clarify the diagnosis and formulation of treatment, tomography, screening and other diagnostic methods are performed. What the doctor tells you to do depends on the developing signs of skin cancer on the leg.
If the pathology is melanoma, then a biopsy is prohibited, as there is a risk of transferring the cancer cells to healthy tissues.
Disease treatment
Radiotherapy, chemicals, and surgery are used to treat skin cancer.
Among the operational methods, there are several manipulations. Which one will be carried out will be chosen by the doctor, depending on the stage of the disease and the type of tumor.
Using liquid nitrogen, a stain on the leg with skin cancer is removed only if it is at the initial stage of development. This method is called cryotherapy. Electric knife is used in electroexcision. You can remove the formation with a laser, which affects only the problem area of the skin. The last method is excision. It is used only in the later stages of the disease. It involves excision of the skin with a scalpel.
The prognosis for treating skin cancer on the leg is generally favorable, but only if the treatment is timely and correct, and the tumor does not start metastases. 80-90% of patients are completely cured. But the stronger the disease is started, the lower the chances of recovery.
Cancer prevention
Preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of developing skin cancer. Wear closed clothing so that your legs are not exposed to the sun for too long. This is especially true of the daytime in the summer. Protect the skin with special creams or gels if it is not possible to wear closed clothing.
In order not to miss the foci of inflammation, you need to periodically inspect the skin. If there are suspicions or any signs, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. It must be remembered that with timely treatment, the outcome is almost always favorable.
Without a doubt, in the prevention of any disease, not the last role is given to immune defense. And to increase it, do not forget about vitamins and minerals.
Well, of course, you should regularly be examined by a specialist in order to detect problems in time.