Skin cancer first appears as a growth, or abnormal accumulation of cells. It sometimes takes the form of a sore or pimple that does not heal. The sore may bleed or ooze fluid, crust or scab over, and then ooze or bleed again. Cancer can occur on almost area of the skin, but is most common on areas often exposed to the sun. Skin cancer usually is painless.
How can you tell if a mole is cancerous?
Where does skin cancer usually develop?
Symptoms Of Skin Cancer
The most common symptoms are:
1. A new growth on the skin.
2. A change in an existing skin growth.
3. A sore that does not heal.
Not all changes in the skin are symptoms of skin cancer. Most moles and other growths are harmless and do not need to be removed. Moles that are unattractive, or in areas where they are constantly irritated by clothing, can be removed by a doctor.
The average person has dozens of moles and other skin growths that are benign or noncancerous. They include:
- Birthmarks, or "congenital nevi," are moles that are present at birth.
- Acquired moles begin to develop early in adolescence, growing and darkening throughout the teenage years. Many adults have 40-60 acquired moles.
- Liver spots, or "solar lentigines," are flat tan-to-brown spots that occur mainly on the face, neck, hands, and forearms. They have nothing to do with the liver. Rather, they develop as a result of aging and sun exposure.
- Seborrheic keratoses are raised, wart-like, tan-to-brown growths that occur as people age.
- Acquired cherry angiomas are smooth, dome-shaped red spots that usually develop on the chest and back. Most are bright red, and appear as people age.
- Skin tags are small, soft flaps of skin that grow on the neck, in the armpits, and groin area are caused by repeated friction.
- Actinic keratoses are slightly scaly, reddish patches that form on people with sun-damaged skin. They are precancerousgrowths that may changes into a
squamous cell carcinoma. That's why doctors recommend removal of actinic keratoses.
How Can You Tell If A Mole Is Cancerous?
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How-To Information: When doing a skin self-examination, take special care in looking for growths that may be melanoma. Check with the doctor immediately if any moles show the danger signs. They can be remembered by thinking of the ABCDs of malignant melanoma. For further information about melanoma, go to Melanoma.
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Where Does Skin Cancer Usually Develop?
These tumors sometimes look like a sore or pimple that does not heal. They may ooze yellowish fluid, crust over with a scab, and then break down and ooze again. When the surrounding skin is stretched, a basal cell carcinoma has a pearly gray look, with tiny blood vessels often visible inside the tumor.
Squamous cell carcinomas look like an inflamed (pinkish or reddish), scaly growth that feels sore or tender. Some may repeatedly break open, bleed, and crust - never fully healing.
Melanomas may form from an existing mole or freckle, or begin to grow from a normal-appearing area of the skin. Moles and freckles are usually light to dark brown and have a clear-cut edge or border. Melanomas usually are multi-colored. The may combine different shades of brown and black, sometimes with areas of red, white or blue. They often have an irregular or uneven border. They may sometimes bleed.
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Nice To Know: Q. How can I tell if a skin growth is dangerous? Is there any special appearance that I should watch for? A. Only a doctor can tell between a benign growth and cancer. Sometimes, it takes a biopsy for the doctor to be sure. In general, however, be alert for growths that enlarge and ooze fluid or blood, crust or clot over, and then ooze or bleed again. A sore that doesn't heal after a week or two may be cancerous. Be on the lookout for moles or skin spots that are:
Those are warning signs of possible skin cancer. Check with the doctor if they occur. |
