Skin Cancer Symptoms: What to Look for to Keep your Skin Safe
Any type of cancer diagnosis is scary news to contemplate. However, many cancers can be effectively treated if they are diagnosed in the early stages. Skin cancer is no exception to this rule. Since skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer, it is worth understanding what the skin cancer symptoms are so that you can monitor your own skin for possible problems. However, the skin cancer symptoms can vary depending on the type of cancer that it is, so it is important to know what the different types of skin cancer are and what the symptoms will look like for each one. For pictures of the various types of skin cancer symptoms, you can check out websites like skincancer.org or mayoclinic.com.
Three Types of Skin Cancer
The first two types of skin cancer are the most common and the easiest to treat. Still, early detection is a key in the most effective treatment options. The first type of cancer is called basal cell carcinoma. The skin cancer symptoms of this type of cancer are waxy or pearly bumps that can occur on the face, neck or ears. It might also show up on your back or chest as a scar-like spot that can be flesh-colored or brown. This is the most common type of skin cancer and the easiest type to treat, since it almost never spreads.
The second type of cancer is called the squamous cell carcinoma, and it is characterized by skin cancer symptoms like a red nodule that can show up on your face, neck or arms. It might also appear as a scaly lesion on the same areas of the body. This type of cancer is also not prone to spreading, although the frequency of spreading is slightly higher than that of basal cell carcinoma. It is also a cancer that can easily be treated effectively, especially when it is caught in the early stages by tuning into the skin cancer symptoms mentioned above.
The last type of skin cancer is melanoma, and although this is the rarest type of skin cancer, it can also be the most serious. The skin cancer symptoms of melanoma include a mole that can be located anywhere on your body that changes size or color, or bleeds. It can also look like a large brown spot with darker speckles inside it. Lesions with irregular borders or more than one color are also signs of melanoma. If you notice any unusual spots or moles anywhere on your body, or if a current mole changes at all, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor to have this potential skin cancer symptom checked. While melanoma can be more serious, it is still 99% treatable when caught in the early stages.
Skin cancer that is found early can be effectively treated in nearly all cases. This is why it is so important to keep alert to possible skin cancer symptoms and see your doctor if you have any spots on your skin that you are concerned about.
