ABIERTOS durante Covid 19 para tratarlo
Innovative Cancer Institute will remain open and provide uninterrupted Skin Cancer Radiation Therapy Treatment to patients not displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
Our team will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the oncologic related questions through Telemedicine.
El cáncer de piel es el cáncer más común en los Estados Unidos con casi dos millones de casos nuevos diagnosticados cada año, pero la radioterapia (XRT, por sus siglas en inglés) es una excelente opción para el tratamiento con resultados tan buenos como la cirugía con mejores resultados estéticos y sin necesidad de anestesia
HECHOS SOBRE EL CANCER DE PIEL
El cáncer de piel es causado por la exposición a los rayos ultravioleta (rayos UV) principalmente del sol y de fuentes artificiales, como en las camas de bronceado. Vemos la mayoría de los casos en Florida debido a las largas y duras horas de luz solar y la población mayor jubilada. Los factores de riesgo intensos incluyen: tez clara de la piel, cabello rubio, ojos azules, trabajo al aire libre, úlceras crónicas de la piel y depresión inmunológica, como en la infección por VIH o en pacientes con trasplantes de órganos en tratamiento antirrechazo.
DOS TIPOS PRINCIPALES DE CÁNCER DE PIEL NO MELANOMAS (SCNM)
Carcinoma de células basales (BCC): esta es la forma más común de cáncer de piel (80%). Estos cánceres comienzan en la capa externa de la piel (epidermis). La radioterapia es muy eficaz para curar los cánceres de células basales en más del 90% de los pacientes.
Carcinoma de células escamosas (CCE): este es el segundo tipo de cáncer de piel más común (casi el 20%). Estos cánceres también comienzan en la epidermis, pero son más agresivos que el BCC. La radioterapia se puede usar para tratar el SCC que comienza en la piel y puede afectar los ganglios linfáticos.
Tratamiento del cáncer de piel
El tratamiento que reciba depende de varios factores, incluido el tipo de cáncer, su ubicación y extensión, así como su estado de salud general, la edad y su elección personal. Los tratamientos a menudo se combinan y pueden incluir lo siguiente:
-
Radioterapia: las células cancerosas son destruidas por la radiación.
-
Cirugía: las células cancerosas se cortan y se extirpan.
-
Cirugía de Moh: una cirugía microscópica controlada, que permite a los cirujanos extirpar pequeñas capas de tejido canceroso mientras preservan el tejido sano.
-
Criocirugía: el cáncer está congelado.
-
Cirugía láser: las células cancerosas son destruidas por rayos láser.
-
Electrodesecación: el cáncer se seca con una corriente eléctrica y se elimina.
-
Quimioterapia: Tópica
Enfoque de la radioterapia
La terapia de radiación (XRT, por sus siglas en inglés) es una modalidad utilizada comúnmente para el tratamiento del cáncer de piel con resultados comparables a la cirugía con una cosmética excelente pero sin necesidad de anestesia. XRT es el tratamiento de elección en ciertas áreas donde la resección quirúrgica tiene mayores riesgos de crear deformidades cosméticas. Además, puede usarse cuando otras modalidades de tratamiento han fallado y los tumores recurren. Hay muchas técnicas diferentes de XRT disponibles, pero las preferidas hoy (ambas disponibles en ICI) son:
1) EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION THERAPY
La radioterapia de haz externo (EBRT, por sus siglas en inglés), que es altamente efectiva, se administra mediante una máquina grande llamada acelerador lineal (LINAC) que comúnmente suministra electrones. Por lo general, los tratamientos se administran en sesiones diarias, 5 días a la semana durante 5 a 6 semanas. Los pacientes normalmente pueden trabajar mientras están en tratamiento.
2) BRACHYTHERAPY
La braquiterapia (de Brachy: cerca, que significa tratamiento a corta distancia) con una tasa de dosis alta (HDR) es una opción de tratamiento muy eficaz para el cáncer de piel que se aplica directamente sobre la piel con aplicadores personalizados para cada paciente individual. Es ideal para el tratamiento de lesiones en áreas anatómicas sensibles con superficies irregulares como orejas, pliegues nasolabiales, párpados, etc. El tratamiento de braquiterapia de alta tasa de dosis (HDR, por sus siglas en inglés) es indoloro y el curso se administra en menos tiempo en comparación con la EBRT. En ICI, los tratamientos generalmente duran menos de 5 semanas y generalmente se administran en 2 o 3 días por semana.
EFECTOS SECUNDARIOS
Todos los tratamientos para el cáncer de piel tienen efectos secundarios mínimos. Los efectos secundarios del tratamiento dependen de la parte de la piel tratada y de la dosis de radiación administrada y del clima, también recibe otros tratamientos. Los pacientes pueden experimentar enrojecimiento como la exposición al sol y, a veces, la humedad de la piel, la pigmentación y / o la decoloración. Una vez finalizado el tratamiento, la piel formará una costra protectora y la piel nueva y sana se desarrollará debajo de ella. Esta curación puede tomar algunas semanas y ocasionalmente meses.
Sin embargo, con los tratamientos de radiación, los pacientes normalmente pueden trabajar o mantener sus rutinas diarias mientras reciben tratamiento de radiación.
Tratamiento del cáncer de piel
El tratamiento que reciba depende de varios factores, incluido el tipo de cáncer, su ubicación y extensión, así como su estado de salud general, la edad y su elección personal. Los tratamientos a menudo se combinan y pueden incluir lo siguiente:
-
Radioterapia: las células cancerosas son destruidas por la radiación.
-
Cirugía: las células cancerosas se cortan y se extirpan.
-
Cirugía de Moh: una cirugía microscópica controlada, que permite a los cirujanos extirpar pequeñas capas de tejido canceroso mientras preservan el tejido sano.
-
Criocirugía: el cáncer está congelado.
-
Cirugía láser: las células cancerosas son destruidas por rayos láser.
-
Electrodesecación: el cáncer se seca con una corriente eléctrica y se elimina.
-
Quimioterapia: Tópica
-
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for breast cancer?Success rate is as high 97-98 % in early cancer stages for the majority of patients
-
Is breast cancer treatment possible without breast removal?Yes and Radiation Therapy is the option that allows for what we call breast conservation, or conservative treatment. If you qualify for the treatment, you can be treated with a lumpectomy, followed by conservative radiation treatment, and you can keep your breast/s. It also is just as successful as a mastectomy, while being far less painful and risky.
-
Does radiation on left breast affect the heart?No. As mentioned above, using modern technology we avoid affecting any surrounding organs.
-
What should you avoid during radiation?It’s best to avoid skin irritants, use mild soaps and creams that are recommended by the Doctor.
-
How long is a radiation treatment for breast cancer?It depends and timing ranges based on a variety of reasons. For the most part cases are short, as brief as 5 days to 2 weeks. However in some special cases where lymph nodes need treatment and/or the tumor is more advanced it can take up to 25-30 days of treatment.
-
Does radiation for breast cancer cause heart problems?No. As mentioned above, we leverage various techniques that allow us to completely shield and protect any vital organs.
-
What are the side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer?Radiation effects occur only in the treated area. In early cancer the only effects are minor redness or mild pigmentation on the skin of the treated area. If the tumor is advanced and if the dose of RT to skin needs to be higher than normal there may be a temporary reaction on the skin which is easily treated with topical creams.
-
Is radiotherapy painful for breast cancer?Radiation therapy is painless. The only thing close to pain you can expect is some slight discomfort from lying in the required position, but that is very brief.
-
Can radiation for breast cancer damage your lungs?No. Using modern technology we avoid damaging any surrounding organs. We have imaging that follows the respiration, and then we employ either controlled breathing techniques or treat patients using prone position in order to protect vital organs.
-
What are the long term effects of radiation for breast cancer?For the most part long term effects of radiation are very limited, at most some will get some skin discoloration or light tanning of skin where treatment was. In very limited cases, some patients can develop fibrosis or changes in the skin telangiectasia (blood vessels visible in the skin) or some patients may get lymphedema of the arm, but those are typically in more advanced cases that require higher doses of Radiation Therapy to the axilla.
-
Do you lose your hair with radiation therapy for breast cancer?No, you typically lose hair during chemotherapy. You do not lose any hair for Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer, the worst side effect that you can expect is some mild skin redness.
-
What is a PSA?The Prostatic-Specific Antigen or PSA test, measures a substance in the bloodstream which is created only by the prostate gland. Abnormally high PSA levels may signal the presence of cancer. However, PSA levels are also higher in men with large prostate glands from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) a very common benign condition among men older than 50 years of age. In order to differentiate BPH from prostate cancer in patients with elevated blood PSA levels, doctors also use a test called PSA density, which relates PSA level to the size of the gland. A digital rectal exam, in which the doctor inserts a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum, is used to detect unusual bumps or hard areas on the prostate that might be cancer. If these tests raise concern, the next step is a prostate biopsy.
-
How curable is prostate cancer?In general, the earlier the cancer is caught, the more likely it is for the patient to be cured. Because approximately 90% of all prostate cancers in the US are detected in the local stages, the cure rate is very high for patients with prostate cancer who are treated appropriately using radiation therapy or surgery.
-
What is a Gleason Score ?The Gleason Score is an exam based on the pathologic examination of prostatic tissue obtained either from study of the prostate removed at surgery or more commonly from study of small core of tissue obtained from a needle biopsy of the prostate in patient suspected of having prostate cancer. This biopsy is usually done in patients who have a palpable nodule on rectal exam or a high PSA level. Multiple samples of prostatic tissue are obtained using a core needle biopsy under local anesthesia via a Trans-Rectal approach with Ultrasound (US) guidance (TRUS). Some of the results from this prostate biopsy are usually given in the form of a Gleason score. On the simplest level, this scoring system assigns a number from 2 to 10 to describe how abnormal the cells appear under a microscope. A score of 2 to 5 means the cells still look very much like normal cells and pose little danger of being malignant. A score of 6 is considered low risk prostate cancer, some of these patients may be observed depending on several factors including age, lifestyle and doctor and patients references. A score of 7 indicates intermediate risk prostate cancer and in general indicates need for treatment although the tumor still likely to be confined within the prostate. A score of 8 to 10 indicates that the tumor is very likely to be aggressive and may be already outside of the gland. These patients in general need to start treatment without delay. The Gleason score is one of the best tests available to gauge the severity of the prostate cancer and guide its management however, it is only one piece of information that you and your doctor will use. Biopsy reports also typically include the number of biopsy core samples that contain cancer, the percentage of cancer in each of the cores, and whether the cancer occurs on one side or both sides of the prostate. This information is key to guide treatment.
-
If there are no symptoms, how is prostate cancer detected?"Screening for prostate cancer can be performed in a physician's office using two tests: the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE).
-
What is the best treatment for prostate cancer?You and your doctor will decide what is the best option for you. This will be dependent upon many factors including your type of tumor and its stage, your medical condition, and your wish to maintain sexual potency and urinary continence.
-
How do you protect yourself from Skin Cancer?The biggest thing you can do is limit your exposure to the sun, but here are some tips that can help: Use sunscreen regularly, and it should be the kind that can protect against UVB light and UVA rays and an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 Reapply often when outside and especially after swimming or sweating. Wear sunglasses Use SPF lip balm Wear sun-protective clothing Avoid tanning beds as they will increase the risk of skin cancer See your dermatologist every year for a skin exam
-
Are there side effects to treating skin cancer with Radiation?Rarely, but some redness or a rash may appear on the skin which usually resolves itself within a week.
-
Will my cancer come back? Or will I get more skin cancers?People who have already had one skin cancer have a higher risk of developing additional skin cancers in the future, so anyone who has been diagnosed with one basal cell carcinoma should be especially watchful for signs of recurrence. Most recurrences happen within three to five years of a patient's original diagnosis.
-
Can I get skin cancer anywhere on my skin?Most skin cancer happens on skin that is exposed to the sun most often such as your head, neck, chest, and arms. However, it is possible to get skin cancer on parts of your body that rarely or ever see sun such as genitals, but that is much more rare.
-
How can I know if I am more likely to get Brain Cancer?In most cases of brain tumors, the cause is not clear. However there are two factors that can increase the risk of cancer, prior exposure to radiation is one, and the other is family history of Brain Tumors.
-
What are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?Signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary widely and can depend on the tumor's size, locale, and how fast it grows. Some signs or symptoms might include: Onset or new pattern of headaches Headaches that become more frequent and more severe over time Unexplained vomiting or nausea Vision problems Gradual loss of sensation in limbs Difficulty with balance and speech Confusion in everyday matters Personality/behavior changes Seizures, especially in you don’t have a prior history of seizures Problems hearing
-
What is difference between benign brain tumors and malignant brain tumors:Benign brain tumors are non-cancerous, but that doesn’t mean they should not be considered for treatment. Malignant tumors are cancerous and typically are more aggressive and spread faster than others and definitely require treatment.
-
How is it Diagnosed?Diagnosis starts by taking family history and reviewing symptoms, followed by a physical and neurological exam. The doctor may then recommend a CT scan or MRI, and or an MRA or Angiogram. The doctor may also recommend a biopsy in some cases.
El Innovative Cancer Institute es un miembro orgulloso de la Skin Cancer Foundation.
Obtenga más información sobre el cáncer de piel aquí: www.skincancer.org
