Jakarta, IO – Cancer rarely shows specific symptoms; this includes skin cancer, and explains why a lot of people aren’t aware that they have cancer until too late. Even though it is not as high-profile as breast or cervical cancer, detecting skin cancer early is crucial to prevent fatality. Dr. dr. Diani Kartini, Sp.B-Onk, an oncological surgery specialist from the Surgery Medical Specialty of University of Indonesia/dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital Oncological Surgery Division, declares that if treated in early stages, skin cancers can heal completely.
“Cancer is defined as an uncontrollable growth of cells. It may happen anywhere in the body – the breasts and chest, the brain, the cervix, or the lymph nodes. Skin cancer is specifically abnormal growth in the dermal layers. In general, it is divided into three types: basal cell carcinoma, squamosa cell carcinoma, and melanoma cancer. Melanoma cancer is rarer than basal cell carcinoma or squamosal cell carcinoma, but more dangerous than either of them,” declared Dr. Diani in the “Early Detection of Skin Cancer” live IG session held on Monday (5/12/2022).
Basal cell carcinoma originates from cells in the innermost part of the outermost skin layer (the epidermis), squamosal cell carcinoma originates from cells in the central part of the epidermis, while melanoma originates from skin pigment cells (melanocyte). “Skin cancer generally occurs in areas of the skin frequently exposed to the sun, such as the skin on the face and head, especially the lips and the ears. However, it may also occur in the hands, under the nails, or the genital area. Skin cancer is caused by genetic mutation of dermal cells. The cause of such mutation is not yet fully understood, but we strongly suspect it to be triggered by excessive exposure to the sun’s rays,” Dr. Diani said.