Like Dr. Niethammer, Dr. White studies these and related issues in zebrafish. These small freshwater fish have some useful features when it comes to studying cancer. For another, their immune system is a lot like that of humans, so lessons learned in one may apply to the other. A study that Dr. White and colleagues published last year lends support to the idea that the area surrounding a cancer cell can influence its fate.
That inflammation can play a role in cancer is not a new idea. Scientists have known for some time that chronic inflammation — inflammation that does not go away for months or years — is a major risk factor for cancer. In both of those cases, inflammation results from the immune system attacking certain microbes.
Whether short-term inflammation can promote cancer as well is still an open question. Like wounds, growing cancers attract immune cells that promote the process of tissue repair after damage. Niethammer says. In the study that prompted Dr. But there are other cases suggesting that even short-term inflammation can be the spark that ignites a flame.
Some older research studies point in this direction. And in May , a scientific paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine reignited the debate. That study, led by Robert Weinberg at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found that a surgical wound could cause dormant breast cancer cells in mice to wake up and start to grow and spread. Freckles and moles have two things in common: there is a genetic tendency to get them, and both are darker than the surrounding skin.
However, there is one big difference. Freckles have zero potential for malignant transformation. While most moles are harmless they can, rarely, become cancerous. Moles that have some potential for malignant transformation will often change, either growing or showing a different border. Symptoms like itching or bleeding are also of concern. Paying attention to moles and other pigmented patches in the skin is an important step in detecting skin cancer, particularly malignant melanoma.
In truth, a mole and a beauty mark are the same thing. And while attractive, they are still moles and should be treated as such should they change in shape, size, or color.
Freckles vary in color depending on the person and their genetic makeup. But excessive exposure to sun may cause your freckles to deepen in color. While still not actually harmful , they can cause some discomfort in your appearance and are usually a sign that your skin has been exposed to too much sun in the first place not to mention that dark spots can actually make you look older! One more fun fact about freckles: People with fair, or light, complexions have less melanin in their skin and, when sunlight causes their melanocytes to make more, they often get freckles instead of an even suntan.
Concerned about a mole? While a bleeding mole may be painful, it can be treated easily at home. However, you should visit a dermatologist if it seems to be bleeding for no reason. Bleeding moles that resemble open sores may be a sign of melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer. The last step is necessary because even though most common mole injuries do not require further treatment, a continually bleeding mole may indicate skin cancer.
If that is the case, your doctor may recommend you undergo a biopsy. This involves taking a skin sample to check for the presence of cancer cells. In order to conduct a biopsy, your dermatologist will recommend removing the suspicious growth through an outpatient procedure. It may be done using a surgical excision or a shave excision. Once a mole is removed, it usually does not come back. Although some moles may be itchy or pesky, patients are warned against trying to remove moles on their own.
Scratching a mole does not cause skin cancer to develop. Scratching can cause bleeding and infection, microscopic injuries, or an outright wound. There are no documented cases where a person scratching a mole later developed cancer as a result. There are different forms of skin cancer, the rarest and most deadly being melanoma. Cancerous moles contain melanocytes, which have a mutation in a cancer-related gene that can cause them to grow and multiply. An early diagnosis is the best way to manage this potentially-life threatening disease.
Having a full body scan done by a board-certified dermatologist can help detect, remove, and cure cancerous areas. Our team of board-certified dermatologists and experienced medical staff will address your concerns and provide necessary treatment for all your skin conditions.
0コメント