Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Everyone should know the symptoms of skin cancer. You may be surprised to learn that the signs are often visible to the average observer, making this form of cancer quite easy to catch and successfully treat early on. While there are many types of skin cancers, some skin cancer symptoms are worth regularly watching for, especially if you are at higher than average risk.
The most common symptoms of skin cancer are a change in the surface appearance of the skin. The specific symptoms of skin cancer depend upon the type of cancer. The types of cancers of the skin, in order from least to most serious are basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and malignant melanoma. The first two of these are also often called non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancers show several skin cancer symptoms. They may appear as patches of dry scaly skin, or as bumps on the skin, either pigmented or not. Squamous cell carcinomas typically show up on very sun damaged skin as rough red bumps. These symptoms of skin cancer can be more challenging to recognize; however, if you have a sore that does not heal, an unexplainable bump, or other skin problems, these should be mentioned to your doctor as possible skin cancer symptoms and treated appropriately. They are very slow growing, and do not typically metastasize. These skin cancer symptoms are most commonly seen on areas that have had the most sun exposure over the years.
The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. The skin cancer symptoms you should watch out for in this case are changes in pigmented skin. Melanoma is specifically the growth of cancerous cells in areas containing melanin. Should a mole or birthmark change in size, shape or color, this is something you should recognize as symptoms of skin cancer. The acronym commonly used for recognition of malignant melanoma and skin cancer symptoms is ABCD: asymmetry, borders, color, and diameter. Should you notice any changes in a mole or birthmark, it is important that you report these skin cancer symptoms to your doctor.
One important way to watch for symptoms of skin cancer is to have an annual skin check by a physician. The symptoms of skin cancer are most commonly seen in areas exposed to sun; however, that is not always true. While you may not notice or be aware of certain changes in your skin, your physician has a better idea of what to look for, especially with regards to skin cancer. Most skin cancers are not terribly dangerous; however, malignant melanomas can metastasize and even lead to death so conscientious awareness of skin cancer symptoms is important.