USING IMAGE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES IN THE DETECTION OF SKIN CANCER

Abstract

This thesis consists of five chapters. It is organized sequentially from the first chapter until the last chapter. The thesis commences with the introduction and finishes with the conclusion and future work. Chapter 1: This chapter presents skin cancer as one of the most serious cancers that can lead to death of the infected person if not diagnosed early. The number of melanoma cases has been increasing in Europe, America and Australia in recent years. In the United States, every 57 minutes of death is reported through skin cancer. The cost of cancer treatment is estimated at more than $3.8 billion (7.2%) of health system costs. In 2001, the cost of treating melanoma was estimated at $264 million, while the cost of melanoma was estimated at $30 million. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, up to four times the rates in Canada and the United States. In 2014, an estimated 128,000 new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in Australia and are expected to increase to 150,000 by 2020. Two out of three Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer. More than 10,300 people are treated for melanoma and 1430 people die every year. In fact, if the depth of melanoma is more than 3 millimeters, the chances of death are 41%. The patient may be cured to 95%, if diagnosed and treated early. In the initial stages, treatment can be by removing the infected part by a simple surgery if melanoma does not reach the bloodstream. Chapter 2: This chapter presents the biology of human skin, skin