David Caprio, known as the son of a warm and empathetic American judge, Frank Caprio, recently shared on Facebook that what should have been a normal visit to the skin doctor became a chilling wake-up call about how skin cancer can very much affect his own family. As he mentions, he comes from a long line of cancer fatalities, in that his father died of cancer and his grandfather died of pancreatic cancer, but he could very well become the next.
What makes skin cancer so dangerous
Skin cancer is a problem that can’t be brushed aside. It has become the most common type of cancer in the global scenario, and if it is unchecked, it can prove to be disastrous. Skin cancer occurs when the DNA in skin cells becomes damaged, in most cases from ultraviolet rays in the sunlight or from tanning machines, and cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled fashion. Skin cancers can develop slowly in the top layers of the skin, while other types, like melanoma–can grow internally in other tissues and metastasize in the most essential organs, beginning from a point that can be life-threatening if it isn’t discovered early.
Physicians group most cases into three broad categories: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The first two tend to develop in areas commonly exposed to the sun, such as the nose, ears, neck, or the tops of the hands, often manifesting as scaly spots, shiny lumps–or stubborn wounds. These are fairly unlikely to metastasize if detected early, although they can invade adjacent tissue, giving off pain, infection, or unsightly scars if neglected for too long. As for melanoma, the one people fear the most, it tends to develop from a mole or dark spots, spreading through the lymphatic or blood vessels to vital body parts such as the lungs, liver, brain, or bones.This is why the point when David Caprio’s dermatologist decided to biopsy freckles and dark spots was so significant. A biopsy is a relatively trivial procedure, yet very heavy with emotion, involving taking a very small amount of skin to examine whether there is cancer present, and its waiting period can be fraught with anxiousness, particularly when one realizes that the family has already lost several members due to cancer. It is, however, this intervention that may very well lead one down the road of taking out a very small, early-stage growth, compared to dealing with a serious one that may involve major surgery or treatment.This would lead to wide excisions, reconstructive surgeries, and possibly immunotherapies or targeted therapies, which entail fatigue, vomiting, immune reactions, costs, and extensive follow-ups. In extreme cases, once the skin cancer has disseminated, the physician might do no more than slow its progress rather than cure it. This forms the reason Caprio decided to recount his experience as a gentle nudge that might prevent others from procrastinating.
Ways to minimize risk to yourself
Whether intentionally or of equal importance, illustrated in the case of Caprio, is the fact that skin cancer prevention is simple but requires regular commitment. Use of sunscreen, clothing, and shade can go a long way in preventing DNA damage to skin cells, while steering clear of tanning booths is also imperative. Equally important is learning to monitor your skin. Doing so by inspecting your skin each month for any new, unusual moles, patches, or sores that do not heal can help you stay alert to any signs, while anything that catches your attention and raises a question about whether it is new or unusual enough to see a doc is the necessary course to follow.For his family, as well as many others who have already lost so much to cancer, a skin scan is truly a gesture of love and self-care. His willingness to discuss his experience with his biopsy on a social platform indicates that even though his family’s history cannot be changed, his future can be by staying vigilant and seeking attention as soon as his skin does not look right.
