An Overview of Environmental Factors on Skin Cancer and Photodynamic Therapy

Cancer is one of the largest leading causes of death in the world, collectively accounting for the second leading cause of death, with 600,000 deaths in the US alone as of 2020. Cancer is the abnormal growth of skin cells that grow uncontrollably and can spread to other body parts. Lung, colorectal, stomach, prostate, female breast, cutaneous melanoma, cervical and thyroid cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers among adults.2 Nevertheless, incidence rates and the burden of cancer have continuously risen rapidly, having a significant impact on public health over the years. However, with improved technologies and new ways of detecting cancer beginning to emerge, survival rates have shown a significant increase. This research paper serves to provide a comprehensive review of one of the most common cancers worldwide—skin cancer—and focuses on its etiology, while also incorporating a review on preventions and certain treatment methods.