Title:

Understanding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers for patients: Insights from Dermatologists Drs. Zahirsha & Mehrzad

Hook:

In this episode, dermatologists from Loyola University discuss the essentials of non-melanoma skin cancers, including risk factors, early signs, and treatment options. Whether you're concerned about sun damage or curious about skin cancer prevention, this conversation provides practical advice for all.

Main Topics:

• Overview of non-melanoma skin cancers: basal cell, squamous cell, and rare variants
• Risk factors like sun exposure, genetics, and immunosuppression
• Recognizing precursor lesions: actinic keratoses and keratoacanthomas
• Differences between superficial and invasive cancers
• Treatment options: topical therapies, scrape and burn, excision, Mohs micrographic surgery
• When to seek medical attention and the importance of early detection
• Systemic treatments and advanced therapies including immunotherapy
• Special considerations for high-risk tumors and sensitive areas

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to skin cancer types and relevance 00:26 - Experts from Loyola Dermatology introduce themselves 01:40 - What are non-melanoma skin cancers? 02:36 - Rare types: Merkel cell, dermatofibrosarcoma, Kaposi sarcoma 04:07 - Predisposing factors for skin cancers: sun exposure, immunosuppression, genetics 05:47 - Recognizing early signs and precursor lesions: actinic keratoses 06:54 - Impact of childhood sunburns and importance of early detection 08:25 - Personal experience with basal cell carcinoma 09:40 - Precancerous lesions and their significance 11:19 - Transformation risk from actinic keratosis to squamous cell carcinoma 12:07 - Common areas for precursor lesions 13:53 - Bowen’s disease and keratoacanthomas 15:36 - Importance of early intervention to prevent deep invasion 17:17 - Characteristics of keratoacanthomas and their behavior 18:29 - Invasion and metastasis: what they mean for skin cancer progression 20:06 - Risk stratification: low, high, and very high-risk tumors 21:16 - Treatment options overview and decision factors 22:43 - Characteristics that make a tumor high risk: size, location, microscopic features 26:14 - Approaches for treating primary lesions: topical, scrape and burn, excision 27:40 - Advantages and limitations of topical therapies like Imiquimod 30:13 - Procedural options: electrodesiccation, curettage, surgical excision 33:20 - Mohs micrographic surgery: why it's preferred for high-risk areas 37:49 - Differences between Mohs and standard excision 40:21 - When radiation therapy is appropriate 43:37 - Role of systemic therapies: immunotherapy, targeted drugs 46:49 - Emerging treatments and advocating for advanced options 49:16 - Key differences between basal and squamous cell carcinomas 50:23 - Insights on Merkel cell carcinoma's aggressiveness 52:47 - Final advice: importance of early detection and regular skin checks 54:23 - The role of monitoring moles and melanoma risks 55:56 - Summarizing the importance of vigilant skin care 56:36 - Closing remarks: consulting a specialist and taking action early

Resources & Links:

• Imiquimod (A topical treatment for superficial skin cancers)
• Mohs Micrographic Surgery - American College of Mohs Surgery
• ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection

Connect with the Experts:

• Mirnaz Mehrzad - Loyola University Profile
• Zisansha Zahirsha - LinkedIn

Additional Notes:

• This episode emphasizes the critical role of early detection and proactive skin health practices. It highlights how simple signs like non-healing sores or new growths should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider. Advances in surgical and systemic treatments are improving outcomes, especially for high-risk cases, making awareness and timely care more important than ever.