Bowmen’s disease is an early symptom of skin cancer, which can be treated at an early stage if not, it causes an unrepairable damage. It is characterized by appearance of red scaly patch on the skin that looks like rash or psoriasis. It is caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells of the epidermis of the skin. Different forms of skin cancer. Read about Bowmen’s disease – An early form of skin cancer
Bowmen’s disease is also called as squamous cell carcinoma. If left untreated the disease can invade in to deeper layers of the skin and can turn into skin cancer which can spread to other parts of the body which is lethal. Bowmen’s disease is more common in females than in males.
Table of Contents
Cause
The exact cause of Bowmen’s disease is unknown. But it is observed in people who are under the following categories
- People who are over exposed to sunlight, it is more common in white people.
- Radiotherapy which is done to treat other types of cancer.
- Exposure to carcinogenic agents like arsenic etc.
Symptoms
Bowmen’s disease first sign is appearance of rash on sun exposed parts of the body like on face, arms and legs etc.
The rash is red and scaly in appearance. Size ranges from 1-3cms, it can be itchy and sore, and may bleed too.
Diagnosis
Bowmen’s disease can b easily diagnosed by its appearance and in order to confirm skin biopsy is done. Local anesthesia is given to the patient and skin sample is collected and given for biopsy.
Treatment
Treatment includes removal of the damaged skin before it become worse. Following are the methods for removal of the skin
- Surgery
- Curettage
- Laser treatment
- Cryotherapy