Dr Abel Zachariah is a Clinical Oncology expert with extensive training and experience. He has 11 years of expertise in this area. He has also worked at the NHS in the United Kingdom. He is currently associated with Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh in Malacca, which is one of the leading hospitals in Malaysia.
He earned his MBBS from the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, his MRCP from the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom in 2005, CCT (UK), and a Post Graduate in Strategic Leadership from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom in 2013. He also completed a Fellowship in Radiology with the Royal College of Radiologists in the United Kingdom. Dr Abel Zachariah has worked as a Consultant at Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh in Malacca and the NHS in the United Kingdom.
List of some of the treatments provided by Dr Abel Zachariah
- Chemotherapy
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia - ALL in Adults
- Breast Biopsy
- Hairy Cell Leukemia - HCL
- Eye Cancer Treatment
- Gallbladder Cancer Treatment
- Bone Marrow Cancer
- Cancer Treatment
- Breast Conservation Surgery - BCS
- Breast Lumpectomy
- Leukaemia Treatment
- Skin Cancer
Know about Skin Cancer
The skin is the body's biggest organ. The most frequent cancer in humans is skin cancer. Skin cancer, or the abnormal proliferation of skin cells, is most commonly found on sun-exposed skin. However, this frequent type of cancer can also develop on parts of your skin that aren't often exposed to the sun.
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are the three most common kinds of skin cancer.
Limiting or avoiding ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can lower your risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer can be detected at an early stage if you check your skin for abnormal changes. Early skin cancer identification increases your chances of successful skin cancer therapy.
Skin cancer types
Keratinocyte carcinoma and melanoma are the two most common forms of skin tumours. Several additional skin lesions, on the other hand, are regarded to be part of a bigger skin cancer umbrella. These aren't all skin cancers, but they all have the potential to become malignant.
Actinic keratosis: These red or pink skin patches aren't cancerous, however, they are a type of precancer. Squamous cell carcinoma can develop from these skin tumours if they go untreated.
Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinomas are the most frequent kind of skin cancer, accounting for 90% of all occurrences. Slow-growing masses that most commonly appear on the head or neck.
Squamous cell carcinoma: This skin cancer originates in the outer layers of the skin and is usually more severe than basal cell carcinoma. It may appear on your skin as red, scaly sores.
Melanoma: Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, mutate and begin to divide uncontrolled. The skin is where the majority of pigment cells form. Melanomas can appear anywhere on the skin, although they are more common in some locations. It most commonly affects the chest and back in men. Legs are the most prevalent place in women. Melanoma is also commonly seen on the face. Melanoma can, however, develop in the eyes and other regions of the body, including — in extremely rare cases — the intestines.
What causes skin cancer?
The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is also dangerous. When you are exposed to sunlight in the winter, you are in the same danger as when you are exposed in the summer. Sun exposure over time mostly causes basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, whereas severe blistering sunburns, generally before the age of 18, can lead to melanoma later in life. Repeated X-ray radiation, scars from burns or sickness, and occupational exposure to specific chemicals are also less prevalent causes.
The eyes and the skin around the eyes are also affected by ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Exposure to the sun can cause cataracts, eyelid cancer, and perhaps macular degeneration.
Diagnosing skin cancer
Make an appointment with your doctor if you find any suspicious spots or growths on your skin, or if existing spots or growths alter. Your doctor will check your skin and may recommend you to a specialist for further evaluation. The form, size, colour, and texture of the suspicious region on your skin will most likely be examined by your doctor or expert. They'll look for scaling, bleeding, or dry regions as well. A biopsy may be performed if your doctor believes it is malignant.
They will remove the questionable region or a piece of it to submit to a lab for testing during this safe and straightforward operation. This can assist them in determining whether or not they have skin cancer.
Treatment
Depending on the size, shape, depth, and location of the lesions, your treatment choices for skin cancer and precancerous skin lesions are known as actinic keratoses may vary. Small skin cancers that are restricted to the skin's surface may not require therapy beyond a skin biopsy that eliminates the whole tumour.
If additional treatment is required, the following alternatives may be considered:
Excisional surgery is a type of surgery that removes a portion of Any sort of skin cancer that may benefit from this type of treatment. Your doctor excises the malignant tissue as well as a healthy skin margin around it. In rare circumstances, a broad excision — the removal of excess normal skin around the tumour — may be recommended.
Mohs surgery is a type of skin cancer surgery. This technique is for skin cancers that are bigger, recurrent, or difficult to cure, and can include both basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It's frequently utilised in regions where preserving as much skin as possible is important, such as the nose. Your doctor removes the skin growth layer by layer during Mohs surgery, inspecting each layer under a microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This treatment permits cancerous cells to be eliminated without removing too much good skin in the process.
Freezing: Your doctor may use liquid nitrogen to freeze actinic keratoses and some tiny, early skin malignancies (cryosurgery). When frozen tissue thaws, it sloughs off.
Radiation therapy is a type of treatment that involves the use of Radiation therapy that kills cancer cells by delivering high-powered radiation beams, such as X-rays. When cancer cannot be eliminated during surgery, radiation treatment may be an alternative.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to destroy cancer cells. Creams or lotions containing anti-cancer medicines can be administered directly to the skin for malignancies that are localised to the top layer of the skin. Skin malignancies that have spread to other regions of the body can be treated with systemic chemotherapy.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses light to This treatment uses a mix of laser light and medications that make cancer cells sensitive to light to kill skin cancer cells.
Curettage, electrodesiccation, and cryotherapy: After removing the majority of a tumour, your doctor uses a circular blade to scrape away layers of cancer cells (curet). Any residual cancer cells are destroyed with an electric needle. Liquid nitrogen can be used to freeze the base and borders of the treated region in a version of this process. Basal cell tumours and thin squamous cell cancers can both be treated with these basic, rapid treatments.
Preventing skin cancer
Avoid exposing your skin to sunlight and other sources of UV radiation for long periods frequently to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Consider the following scenario:
- That Sunlamps and tanning beds should be avoided.
- Staying indoors or in the shade during the peak hours of the sun, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is the best way to avoid direct solar exposure.
- Apply sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher to any exposed skin at least 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply often.
- When you're outside during the day, wear a wide-brimmed hat and dry, dark, tightly woven textiles.
- Wear sunglasses that block all UVB and UVA rays completely.
It's also important to check your skin for changes such as new growths or patches frequently. If you find anything strange, tell your doctor.
Early detection and treatment of skin cancer can help you have a better long-term outlook.
Dr Abel Zachariah is the best Medical Oncologist in Malaysia. He has helped thousands of patients and made a significant difference in their lives. His commitment and skill aided the patients in making the best decision possible. He works in Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh in Malacca, one of Malaysia's premier hospitals.