Skin Cancer Symptoms

June 25th, 2009 admin Posted in Cancer | 1 Comment »

Knowing Skin Cancer Symptoms

skin cancer symptoms pictures
For several years, sun exposure has been linked with skin cancer. To early protect yourself and the ones you love, it is important to learn about Skin Cancer Symptoms. More people are diagnosed with this cancer than with any other.

Oftentimes, skin cancer appears as a growth on the surface of the skin. Since birth are rarely cancerous, moles or marks that have been present. However, changes in the appearance of these moles or marks, can be a sign of malignancy, and should be evaluated by a physician.

Unfortunately, Skin Cancer sometimes looks like a sore or pimple that does not heal. These areas may seep clear fluid or bleed. They may appearing as though they are beginning to heal and develop scabs but then begin to bleed or seep again.

However, different skin cancers develop in different areas of the body. Usually, basal cell carcinomas appear on skin surfaces frequently exposed to sun, like the neck, the face, or upper back, and occasionally the arms or hands. They often seep yellowish fluid, scab over, and begin again to ooze. Then basal cell cancers are often light grey in color when the skin is pulled taut. Sometimes tiny blood vessels can be seen inside the tumors.

Generally, squamous cell carcinomas are more likely than basal cell cancers to appear on the backs of the hands or arms, but are found most frequently on the neck, face or upper back. These appear as painful reddish, scaly growths. These also bleed or seep, scab over, and drain again.

The most dangerous type, Malignant melanoma, usually appears on the trunk or legs. These may appear as changes in freckles or moles, or may begin to grow spontaneously from a part of the skin that appears completely normal. These are often multi-colored, and can be black, brown, white, red, or blue.

However, people may develop other types of skin cancers. Kaposi’s sarcoma is found in people with weakened immune systems, such as persons with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), or those who have had organ transplants. These are painful purple spots that appear on the skin and can spread to digestive organs or the lungs.

People with a high risk for skin cancer, should consider examining their skin often, such as those frequently exposed to sunlight or individuals with a family member who has had cancer. If it is found and treated early, skin cancer is usually very curable. Being aware of skin cancer symptoms and examining your skin often may save your life and will allow you to get medical treatment early.