Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Risk Factors
Awareness is the key - know your risks and the signs and symptoms of skin cancer so you can protect yourself accordingly.
The symptoms of skin cancer may vary according to the skin cancer type. If you are at a higher risk for skin cancer, you might consider being seen by a dermatologist on a regular basis. Awareness is the key: Know your risks and the signs to look for so you can protect yourself accordingly.
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer:
- Fair Skin
- Living in a warm, sunny climate
- History of Sunburn
- Over-Exposure to the Sun
- Tanning
- Increasing age
- History of Skin Cancer
- Immune Deficiency
- Previously Injured Skin
Signs and Symptoms
While some of the signs and symptoms for skin cancer vary according to skin cancer type, some are the same. One of the common factors is that skin cancers are most commonly found on areas of the skin that endure the most most sun exposure, such as the face, ears and hands. Malignant melanoma, however, does occur more frequently than other skin cancers in places on the body that are rarely if ever exposed. Malignant melanoma is one of the more uncommon skin cancers, yet it is by far the most dangerous. Melanoma kills someone in the United States every hour. There are certain signs of melanoma that you can watch for. Know your skin! Early detection is the key to early treatment and long-term survival of malignant melanoma. Here are some things to look for:
- A new firm, fleshy bump.
- Area with a waxy appearance.
- A sore that does not heal.
- A sore that oozes, crusts, or bleeds.
- An area that looks like a scar that has not suffered an injury.
- A raised lesion with a sunken area in the middle.
- A rough, scaly bump.
- Any change in an existing wart or mole.
The ABCDE's
A melanoma lesion may exhibit many of these characteristics, or it may exhibit only one. Your doctor or dermatologist is your best resource -- make sure to get a professional opinion if you notice any of the following:
A-- Asymmetry: One side does not match the other.
B-- Border: Notched or ragged -- not uniform.
C-- Color: Uneven tone, or more than one color in the same mole.
D-- Diameter: Larger than 6 mm, or the size of a pencil eraser.
E-- Evolving: A mole that changes in size, color, shape or height, or develops symptoms such as itching, burning or bleeding.
Suggested Reading:
Sources:
American Family Physician, Vol. 62/No. 2 July 15,2000
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