Prevención del cáncer de piel
At the NCI-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, we’re focused on preventing skin cancer from ever starting and catching it as early as possible, when treatment is easiest and most effective.
Prevention is one of the many goals of our skin cancer team. This highly specialized multidisciplinary team uses state-of-the-art tools to diagnose skin cancer in its earliest stages.
Regular skin cancer checks are important for everyone. There are two types of skin cancer screenings: screening by a doctor and skin self-exams. Talk to your provider about your risk for skin cancer and to understand what screening type would be right for you.
You can take many steps to lower your chances of getting skin cancer. These include understanding your family health history, reducing your risk of repeated sunburns, minimizing sun exposure, wearing clothing that covers your arms and legs, and using broad spectrum sunscreen. It’s also important to identify cancer in its earliest stage—getting skin cancer screenings can help.
If you have a family history of risk factors, particularly for melanoma, our Genetics Program offers genetic testing to determine if you have a gene mutation or change that gives you an increased risk for developing melanoma. These mutations pass down through the family tree from generation to generation.
Durante más de 50 años, el Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center ha sido líder en la investigación, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de más de 200 tipos de cáncer. Contáctenos para obtener servicios expertos deteccion y prevencion del cancer .
Como centro del cáncer designado por el Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NCI, por sus siglas en inglés) Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center apoya la misión y las normas del NCI. La siguiente información sobre los tipos de cáncer, prevención y tratamientos ha sido facilitada por el NCI.
Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ®)–Patient Version
¿Qué es la prevención?
La prevención del cáncer es una medida que se adopta para reducir la probabilidad de contraer esta enfermedad. Al prevenir el cáncer, se reduce el número de casos nuevos de cáncer en un grupo o población. Se espera que esto reduzca el número de muertes causadas por esta enfermedad.
To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer risk factor; anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer protective factor.
Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.
Different ways to prevent cancer are being studied.
Información general sobre el cáncer de piel
Puntos clave
- El cáncer de piel es una enfermedad en la que se forman células malignas (cancerosas) en los tejidos de la piel.
- There are several types of skin cancer.
- Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
El cáncer de piel es una enfermedad en la que se forman células malignas (cancerosas) en los tejidos de la piel.
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis (upper or outer layer) and the dermis (lower or inner layer).
The epidermis is made up of three kinds of cells:
- Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that make up most of the epidermis.
- Basal cells are the round cells under the squamous cells.
- Melanocytes are found throughout the lower part of the epidermis. They make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its natural color. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes make more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken.
The dermis contains blood and lymph vessels, hair follicles, and glands.
Anatomy of the skin, showing the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Melanocytes are in the layer of basal cells at the deepest part of the epidermis.
For more information about skin cancer, see the following:
There are several types of skin cancer.
There are two main types of skin cancer:
- Nonmelanoma or keratinocyte carcinoma, which includes:
- Melanoma.
The most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, which forms in the squamous cells, and basal cell carcinoma, which forms in the basal cells. Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are also called keratinocyte carcinoma or nonmelanoma skin cancers. Melanoma, which forms in the melanocytes, is a less common type of skin cancer that grows and spreads quickly.
Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common in areas exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer in the United States. The number of new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer appears to be increasing every year. These nonmelanoma skin cancers can usually be cured.
The number of new cases of melanoma has been increasing for at least 40 years. Melanoma is more likely to spread to nearby tissues and other parts of the body and can be harder to cure. Finding and treating melanoma skin cancer early may help prevent death from melanoma.
Prevención del cáncer de piel
Puntos clave
- Evitar los factores de riesgo y aumentar los factores de protección puede ayudar a prevenir el cáncer.
- Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for skin cancer.
- Treatment of sun-damaged skin to prevent skin cancer:
- Topical fluorouracil
- It is not known if the following lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer:
- Sunscreen use and avoiding sun exposure
- Chemopreventive agents
- It is not known if the following lower the risk of melanoma:
- Sunscreen
- Counseling and protecting the skin from the sun
- Los ensayos clínicos de prevención del cáncer se utilizan para estudiar formas de prevenir el cáncer.
- New ways to prevent skin cancer are being studied in clinical trials.
Evitar los factores de riesgo y aumentar los factores de protección puede ayudar a prevenir el cáncer.
Evitar los factores de riesgo del cáncer puede ayudar a prevenir ciertos tipos de cáncer. Entre los factores de riesgo se incluyen el tabaquismo, el sobrepeso y la falta de ejercicio. Aumentar los factores de protección, como dejar de fumar y hacer ejercicio, también puede ayudar a prevenir algunos tipos de cáncer. Hable con su médico u otro profesional de la salud sobre cómo puede reducir el riesgo de cáncer.
Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for skin cancer.
Some studies suggest that being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the sensitivity of a person’s skin to UV radiation are risk factors for skin cancer. UV radiation is the name for the invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. Sunlamps and tanning beds also give off UV radiation.
Risk factors for nonmelanoma and melanoma cancers are not the same.
- Risk factors for nonmelanoma skin cancer:
- Being exposed to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time.
- Having a fair complexion, which includes the following:
- Fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly.
- Blue or green or other light-colored eyes.
- Red or blond hair.
- Having actinic keratosis.
- Past treatment with radiation.
- Having a weakened immune system, including people treated with immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplant.
- Being exposed to arsenic.
- Risk factors for melanoma skin cancer:
- Having a fair complexion, which includes the following:
- Fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly.
- Blue or green or other light-colored eyes.
- Red or blond hair.
- Being exposed to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time.
- Having a history of many blistering sunburns, especially as a child or teenager.
- Having many moles (also called nevi).
- Having a family history of unusual moles (atypical nevus syndrome).
- Having a family or personal history of melanoma.
- Being White.
- Having a fair complexion, which includes the following:
Although having a fair complexion is a risk factor for nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer, people of all skin colors can get skin cancer.
Treatment of sun-damaged skin to prevent skin cancer:
Topical fluorouracil
A study showed that topical fluorouracil applied on sun-damaged skin daily for up to 4 weeks prevented new actinic keratoses from developing. The areas treated with topical fluorouracil had a lowered risk of developing into squamous cell carcinoma that would require surgery. The lowered risk of developing into squamous cell carcinoma was seen for 1 year after treatment. Topical fluorouracil did not, however, change the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
It is not known if the following lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer:
Sunscreen use and avoiding sun exposure
It is not known if nonmelanoma skin cancer risk is decreased by staying out of the sun, using sunscreens, or wearing protective clothing when outdoors. This is because not enough studies have been done to prove this.
Sunscreen has been shown to prevent sunburns and actinic keratoses that may become squamous cell carcinoma, and to decrease the signs and symptoms of existing actinic keratoses.
The harms of using sunscreen are likely to be small and include allergic reactions to skin creams and lower levels of vitamin D made in the skin because of less sun exposure.
It is also possible that when a person uses sunscreen to avoid sunburn they may spend too much time in the sun and be exposed to harmful UV radiation.
Although protecting the skin and eyes from the sun has not been proven to lower the chance of getting skin cancer, skin experts suggest the following:
- Use sunscreen that protects against UV radiation.
- Do not stay out in the sun for long periods of time, especially when the sun is at its strongest.
- Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, sun hats, and sunglasses, when outdoors.
Chemopreventive agents
Chemoprevention is the use of drugs, vitamins, or other agents to try to reduce the risk of cancer. The following chemopreventive agents have been studied to find whether they lower the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer:
Beta carotene
Studies of beta carotene (taken as a supplement in pills) have not shown that it prevents nonmelanoma skin cancer from forming or coming back.
Isotretinoin and related retinoids
Retinoids are Vitamin A or vitamin A-like compounds that are applied to the skin or taken by mouth. Isotretinoin is a type of retinoid being studied in the prevention and treatment of certain cancers.
High doses of isotretinoin taken by mouth have been shown to prevent new skin cancers in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Isotretinoin cream has not been shown to prevent nonmelanoma skin cancers from coming back in patients previously treated for nonmelanoma skin cancers. These treatments can cause serious side effects.
Selenium
Studies have shown that selenium (taken in brewer's yeast tablets) does not lower the risk of basal cell carcinoma, and may increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
Celecoxib
A study of celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), in patients with actinic keratosis and a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer found those who took celecoxib had slightly lower rates of recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancers. Celecoxib may cause serious heart and blood vessel side effects.
Alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)
A study of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in patients with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer showed that those who took DFMO had lower rates of basal cell carcinomas than those who took a placebo, but no difference in squamous cell carcinoma rates. However, those who took DFMO had greater hearing loss than the placebo group, leading to a higher rate of patients discontinuing this drug.
Nicotinamide (vitamin B3)
Studies have shown that nicotinamide (vitamin B3) helps prevent new actinic keratoses lesions from forming in people who had four or fewer actinic lesions before taking nicotinamide. However, one study also showed an increased incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers in patients months after they were treated with nicotinamide. More studies are needed to find out if nicotinamide prevents nonmelanoma skin cancer from forming or coming back.
It is not known if the following lower the risk of melanoma:
Sunscreen
It has not been proven that using sunscreen to prevent sunburn can protect against melanoma caused by UV radiation. Other risk factors such as having skin that burns easily, having many benign (noncancerous) moles, or having atypical nevi may also play a role in whether melanoma forms.
Counseling and protecting the skin from the sun
Studies show that people who receive counseling or information about avoiding sun exposure improve their sun protective habits. These studies show mixed effects on reducing sunburns and do not show whether skin cancers are reduced.
Harms of avoiding sun exposure may include mood disorders, sleep disturbances, higher blood pressure, and impaired vitamin D metabolism..
Los ensayos clínicos de prevención del cáncer se utilizan para estudiar formas de prevenir el cáncer.
Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Some cancer prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer but who have an increased risk for cancer. Other prevention trials are conducted with people who have had cancer and are trying to prevent another cancer of the same type or to lower their chance of developing a new type of cancer. Other trials are done with healthy volunteers who are not known to have any risk factors for cancer.
The purpose of some cancer prevention clinical trials is to find out whether actions people take can prevent cancer. These may include eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, quitting smoking, or taking certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements.
New ways to prevent skin cancer are being studied in clinical trials.
La información sobre los ensayos clínicos patrocinados por el NCI se puede encontrar en la página web de búsqueda de ensayos clínicos del NCI. Los ensayos clínicos patrocinados por otras organizaciones se pueden encontrar en el sitio web ClinicalTrials.gov .
Información sobre este resumen del PDQ
Acerca del PDQ
Physician Data Query (PDQ) es la base de datos integral sobre el cáncer del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NCI). La base de datos del PDQ contiene resúmenes de la última información publicada sobre prevención, detección, genética, tratamiento, atención médica de apoyo y medicina complementaria y alternativa relacionada con el cáncer. La mayoría de los resúmenes se redactan en dos versiones. Las versiones para profesionales de la salud contienen información detallada escrita en lenguaje técnico. Las versiones para pacientes están redactadas en un lenguaje fácil de entender, que no es técnico. Ambas versiones contienen información sobre el cáncer correcta y actualizada. La mayoría de las versiones también están disponibles en español.
El PDQ es un servicio del NCI. El NCI es parte de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud (NIH), que son el centro de investigación biomédica del Gobierno federal. Los resúmenes del PDQ se basan en una revisión independiente de la literatura médica. No son declaraciones de políticas del NCI ni de los NIH.
Propósito de este resumen
This PDQ cancer information summary has current information about skin cancer prevention. It is meant to inform and help patients, families, and caregivers. It does not give formal guidelines or recommendations for making decisions about health care.
Revisores y actualizaciones
Los consejos editoriales escriben los resúmenes de información sobre el cáncer del PDQ y los mantienen actualizados. Estos consejos están conformados por equipos de especialistas en el tratamiento del cáncer y otras especialidades relacionadas con esta enfermedad. Los resúmenes se revisan periódicamente y se modifican cuando hay información nueva. La fecha de actualización al pie de cada resumen indica cuándo fue el cambio más reciente.
La información contenida en este resumen para pacientes se tomó de la versión para profesionales de la salud, que el Consejo editorial del PDQ sobre detección y prevención revisa con regularidad y actualiza según sea necesario.
Información sobre ensayos clínicos
Un ensayo clínico es un estudio para responder a una pregunta científica; por ejemplo, si un tratamiento es mejor que otro. Los ensayos se basan en estudios anteriores y en lo que se ha aprendido en el laboratorio. Cada ensayo responde a ciertas preguntas científicas para descubrir mejores maneras de ayudar a los pacientes con cáncer. Durante los ensayos clínicos de tratamiento, se recopila información sobre los efectos de un tratamiento nuevo y su eficacia. Si un ensayo clínico demuestra que un tratamiento nuevo es mejor que uno que se utiliza actualmente, el tratamiento nuevo puede convertirse en “estándar”. Participar en un ensayo clínico puede ser una opción para los pacientes. Algunos ensayos clínicos están abiertos solo a pacientes que aún no han comenzado el tratamiento.
Los ensayos clínicos se pueden encontrar en línea en el sitio web del NCI. Para obtener más información, llame al Servicio de Información sobre el Cáncer (CIS, por sus siglas en inglés), el centro de contacto del NCI, al 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Permiso de uso de este resumen
PDQ (Physician Data Query) es una marca registrada. Se autoriza el libre uso del contenido de los documentos del PDQ como texto. Sin embargo, no se podrá identificar como un resumen de información sobre cáncer del PDQ del NCI, salvo que se reproduzca en su totalidad y se actualice con regularidad. Por otra parte, se permite que los autores incluyan una oración como: “En el resumen del PDQ del NCI sobre la prevención del cáncer de mama se describen, de manera concisa, los siguientes riesgos: [incluir fragmento del resumen]”.
La forma recomendada para citar este resumen del PDQ es:
PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Skin Cancer Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/skin-prevention-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 26389434]
Las imágenes de este resumen se utilizan con el permiso del autor, artista y/o editorial para uso exclusivo en los resúmenes del PDQ. Si desea usar una imagen de un resumen del PDQ sin incluir el resumen completo, debe obtener autorización del propietario. El National Cancer Institute no puede otorgar dicho permiso. Para obtener más información sobre el uso de las imágenes de este resumen o de otras ilustraciones relacionadas con el cáncer, consulte Visuals Online, una colección de más de 3,000 imágenes científicas.
Descargo de responsabilidad
La información de estos resúmenes no debe utilizarse para tomar decisiones sobre reembolsos de seguros. Puede encontrar más información sobre la cobertura de seguros disponible en Cancer.gov/espanol en la página Manejo de la atención médica del cáncer.
Contáctenos
Puede encontrar más información sobre cómo contactarnos o recibir ayuda en el sitio web Cancer.gov en la página Contact Us for Help. También puede enviar sus preguntas a Cancer.gov en el apartado E-mail Us del sitio web.
Updated:
Source URL: https://www.cancer.gov/node/1970/syndication
Agencia de origen: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Captured Date: 2013-09-14 09:00:41.0