BSC2346 Module 02 Linda’s Skin Cancer Case Study

BSC2346 Module 02 Linda’s Skin Cancer Case Study

QUESTION 1

Since childhood, Linda has always enjoyed the outdoors. She tries to spend as much time outside in the summer as she can because she lives in the Pacific Northwest, where summers are short. Now, Linda is 62 years old and is taking her grandchildren to the same lake house where she spent long days boating, swimming, and playing sports as a child.

Linda has noticed an itchy skin lesion on the superior portion of her right ear within the past two weeks. She is beginning to worry because it doesn’t seem to be healing. She packed a large-brimmed hat for her lake trip to keep her face and ears out of the sun. She wants to make sure she is helping protect her grandchildren from any potential skin damage, too.

If Linda’s lesion is a sign of cancer, which types of skin cancer do you think it could be? What other information would you need to know to make a more educated diagnosis?

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QUESTION 2

Which of the following is the most deadly type of skin cancer?

Squamous cell carcinoma

Basal adenoma

Basal cell carcinoma

Melanoma

QUESTION 3

Linda asks her son, who is a nurse, to look at the lesion. He notices that the lesion has an asymmetric border, is black and brown, and measures less than 3 mm. Which of these factors is NOT a warning sign of cancer?

Asymmetric border

Black and brown color

All of these factors are warning signs

Measurement of less than 3 mm

QUESTION 4

Linda’s son thinks a biopsy might be necessary and urges her to follow-up with a dermatologist. In your own words, briefly describe the process of a skin biopsy.

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QUESTION 5

Humans have a natural protection against UV light called melanin, produced by melanocytes. Which layer of skin contains melanocytes?

Epidermis

Dermis

Reticular layer

Hypodermis

BSC2346 Module 02 Linda’s Skin Cancer Case Study QUESTION 6

In your own words, what is the difference between a benign and a malignant tumor?

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QUESTION 7

Linda had a grandfather who was diagnosed with melanoma. She is now wondering if she inherited a gene that has caused her to have melanoma, too. Could this be true? Why or why not?

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QUESTION 8

If Linda’s biopsy is positive for melanoma, which of the following would NOT be a treatment option?

Surgical removal

Chemotherapy

Antibiotic therapy

Radiation

QUESTION 9

How has Linda’s exposure to sun throughout her life contributed to her possible melanoma? (Hint: think about what happens to the DNA of skin cells.)

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QUESTION 10

How can Linda help protect her grandchildren when they are spending time outdoors? Be specific, use your own words, and include at least 3 ideas.

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QUESTION 11

Craig works in a factory and is often exposed to extremely corrosive chemicals. He always follows the proper safety precautions when necessary. One day, his coworker tripped on a staircase and Craig rushed to see if he was okay. As he tried to help his coworker stand up, Craig’s hands and arms began to tingle and burn intensely.

He looked around and realized that the box his coworker was carrying had been filled with a corrosive material and had spilled on his bare hands and arms. Craig immediately ran to the sink and began running water over his skin, while his coworkers called 911. He was rushed to the hospital. While riding in the ambulance, he was in excruciating pain. He observed large blisters forming over his right arm, while his left hand seemed to hurt less than the right, but appeared to be more damaged.

The blisters forming on Craig’s right arm indicate that his burns are at LEAST which type?

Full thickness

First degree

Third degree

Second degree

BSC2346 Module 02 Linda’s Skin Cancer Case Study QUESTION 12

Craig’s left hand is more damaged and the EMTs believe it is a third degree burn. If they are correct, which layers are damaged?

Epidermis and hypodermis

Dermis only

Epidermis, dermis, and underlying tissues

Epidermis and partial dermis

QUESTION 13

Craig’s left arm has sustained damaged on the anterior and posterior aspects from fingers to shoulder. His right arm and hand have sustained damage on the anterior surface only. How much of his body has been experienced burn damage?

9%

18%

13.5%

36%

QUESTION 14

Did Craig do the right thing by rushing to the sink to rinse his skin with running water? Why or why not?

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QUESTION 15

Craig noticed that his left hand appeared to be the most damaged portion of his skin, but it didn’t hurt as intensely as the less damaged skin. In your own words, explain how this is possible.

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QUESTION 16

All of the following are potential complications of Craig’s injuries EXCEPT:

Blood loss

Hypovolemia

Shock

Hyperthermia

QUESTION 17

Assuming Craig has sustained third degree burns, which of the following treatment options is most likely and most effective?

Antibiotic and antiviral oral medication

Debriding and skin grafting

Aloe to control pain and rinsing area daily with purified water

Burn cream and bandages

QUESTION 18

Explain, in your own words, why a full-thickness skin graft may be a better choice for Craig’s wounds when compared to a split-thickness skin graft.

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QUESTION 19

Craig’s injuries were caused by chemical burns. Which of the following factors can also cause third degree burns?

Heat

All of these choices can cause third degree burns

Radiation

Electricity

BSC2346 Module 02 Linda’s Skin Cancer Case Study QUESTION 20

Research new types of burn care/treatment. Briefly describe a new burn treatment technique that has been developed in the past 5 years. (Rasmussen’s Library and journal databases are a great place to start your research.)

 

MORE INFO 

Skin Cancer

Introduction

Skin cancer is dangerous, but it can be prevented. If you are at risk for skin cancer and want to learn more about how to protect yourself from the sun, here’s what you need to know:

Skin cancer is dangerous, here’s how to avoid it.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and it can be deadly if not caught early. If you have fair skin or light eyes and live in a place with easy access to UV rays like Australia or New Zealand (or anywhere else), you should be especially vigilant about sun protection.

You’ll want to slather on sunscreen every day—even when it’s cloudy—and wear clothes that cover as much skin as possible during the day. You should also limit your time outdoors between 2PM and 6PM when there’s no shade available.

If you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer by a doctor or other medical professional, follow their advice for treatment options; if not, take advantage of these tips:

• Don’t ignore any red patches that appear on your skin! These are early signs of melanoma (the deadliest form) so get yourself checked out right away by a doctor who specializes in treating these types of cancers (if possible). If they find one while they’re checking out other parts of your body like underarms/legs then they’ll likely recommend immediate removal surgery followed by multiple rounds of radiation therapy over several months until all traces are gone

If you are at risk for skin cancer, you should get your skin checked by a doctor.

As a health professional, I know that skin cancer is a serious disease. That’s why it’s important to get your skin checked by a doctor if you are at risk for skin cancer.

Skin cancer can occur on any part of your body and there are many different types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma.

Stay out of the sun if you can.

Don’t forget to stay out of the sun if you can. Glamorous photos are cool, but they don’t make up for burns on your face and neck.

You can get skin cancer from ultraviolet (UV) rays even if you aren’t burnt by the sun directly—they can still damage your body’s cells and cause them to grow abnormally. To protect yourself from UV rays:

• Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays; just before noon on Saturdays; and anytime during daylight savings time (DST).

• Use sunscreen with an SPF rating greater than 30 when going outside even if it’s cloudy or raining because some sunlight penetrates clouds better than others do. If possible, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out into direct sunlight for the whole day so that it has time to absorb enough UV light before being absorbed by your skin cells.”

Wear a hat and sunscreen when you go outside.

• Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your face and neck.

• Use sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30.

• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside, then reapply every two hours.

• Use a waterproof sunscreen if possible, but if you don’t have time to apply it often enough then reapply after swimming or sweating in the summer months (or any time).

Don’t use tanning beds.

• Don’t use tanning beds.

• Not only do they cause cancer and premature aging, but they also burn your skin and cause sunburns.

• If you’re going to go tanning anyway, try to get a spray-tan instead of a traditional one because it’s safer for your skin and doesn’t involve lying on a bed for hours at a time.

Monitor the condition of your skin.

While you may think that skin cancer is something that happens to other people, it’s important to keep an eye on your own skin. Regularly check for any changes in your skin, such as new moles or growths, even if they aren’t painful.

If you notice any changes on your face or body, see a doctor immediately. A dermatologist can examine the area and determine whether there are any suspicious areas on which further testing should be done.

Skin cancer is dangerous and can be avoided if you protect yourself from the sun.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and can be deadly. It’s caused by sunlight exposure, tanning beds, or other sources of radiation.

UV rays from the sun cause skin cancer by damaging your DNA and causing mutations that lead to cell growth and division without supervision. This makes it easier for skin cells to mutate into malignant ones (cancerous). These mutated cells grow uncontrollably when they travel around your body with blood vessels below them—and this is what makes them dangerous!

Conclusion

Skin cancer is important to know about because it can be prevented and treated early. Even if you don’t have any symptoms of skin cancer, you should still get checked by your doctor so they can check for suspicious lesions on your skin. There are several different types of skin cancers that affect people differently depending on their age and other factors such as ethnicity