Researchers from the University of Rostock, Germany, have succeeded in treating light skin cancer, which is caused by excessive exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. What are the details of the treatment method?
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rostock (UMR) announced that 22 patients with light skin cancer were treated as part of a scientific study, according to news reported by the German News Agency and reported by several German media and Deutsche Welle .
"All of the patients involved responded, and most were cured in the long term," said dermatologist Stephen Emmert.
"It's a new method that needs further evaluation," said Ralph Gottzmer, chair of the Dermatological Oncology Working Group.
The study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Light skin cancer is a general term for some skin tumors that are different from black skin cancer (melanoma). The sun's rays or ultraviolet rays of the most important factors causing tumors.
Paste on the site of the tumor
The new treatment method is to apply a special paste with a special device to the site of the tumor on the skin. The surrounding tissue is covered with foil to protect it from radiation, so that the radiation kills only cancer cells and does not harm healthy cells.
According to the researchers, the new method does not require hospitalization, but is carried out in the outpatient clinic for one time and takes from one to two hours.
And the side effects in the following weeks include inflammation, itching and burning, but then the skin returns to normal and the skin cancer disappears. However, treatment is only successful if the cancer is caught early and has not penetrated deep into the skin.
The new technology remains to be evaluated in terms of costs, side effects, and efficacy compared to other treatment methods such as surgery and radiotherapy, Gotzemer said.
And the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rostock announced that this method will be presented at the German Skin Cancer Conference in September.
In a related context, and in light of the increasing effects of climate change, the German Federal Agency for Radiation Protection called for more measures to be taken to protect against ultraviolet rays, which cause skin cancer. According to the data, since 2000 the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer has doubled.
Skin cancer
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that usually occurs as a result of exposure to sunlight, but it may occur in places that are not exposed to the sun, and there are 3 types of skin cancer according to the type of cells in which the tumor originates. Prevention and early detection of the disease if it occurs is the key to protection and increase the possibility of recovery.
The types of skin cancer are:-
Basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma.
Melanoma (melanoma).
Sometimes, the first two types (basal and squamous) are called light skin cancer, because the affected cells do not contain pigments, and this does not mean that it affects people with light skin only. While melanoma is called dark skin cancer, because the melanocytes are responsible for producing the pigment "melanin" that gives the skin its dark color, and this also does not mean that it affects people with dark skin only.
Basal cell carcinoma:-
It is the most common skin cancer.
It usually begins as a painless lump or pimple.
This granule grows slowly.
After a while, it turns into an open sore with hard edges.
Squamous cell carcinoma:-
A small, painless red bump.
It may turn into an ulcer.
Melanoma (melanoma):-
Skin cancer is the most common cause of death.
A brown spot may start.
A new mole appears.
An old mole that has changed its shape, color or size.
A small patch of irregular edges that may be white, red, blue, or black.
Black spots on the palms, feet, or fingers, as well as the mouth, nose, vagina or anus.
A patch over 6 millimeters in diameter. It is equal to the diameter of a lead eraser, but it may be smaller than that.
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HEALTH UPDATE