Minnesota medicine
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Skin cancers are the most common types of all cancers, and the most commonly occurring skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma, in that order. This article discusses the clinical presentations and subtypes of these 3 types of cancer and the current state of treatments for them. Also discussed are precursor lesions to these malignancies, including actinic keratosis, a squamous cell carcinoma precursor, and atypical or dysplastic nevus, a potential precursor of malignant melanoma.
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Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiation is an accepted alternative to mastectomy for treatment of early-stage breast cancer. This study evaluated age-group, geographic, and cancer-stage variables associated with the likelihood of receiving BCS or receiving mastectomy and the likelihood of receiving radiation therapy following BCS. Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System data on 6,594 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Minnesota during the years 1995-1996 were analyzed. ⋯ Age and the stage of the cancer were independently associated with the likelihood of receiving radiation therapy following BCS. Breast cancer patients 75 years and older were 73% less likely to receive radiation following BCS than patients ages 40 to 49. Radiation following BCS was more likely among women in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and south central Minnesota than among women in other regions.