How Does Skin Cancer Develop

Melanoma Signs And Symptoms

Melanoma skin cancer is much more serious than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It can spread quickly to other organs and causes the vast majority of skin cancer deaths in the United States. Usually melanomas develop in or around an existing mole.

Appearance

Signs and symptoms of melanoma vary depending on the exact type and may include:

• A flat or slightly raised, discolored patch with irregular borders and possible areas of tan, brown, black, red, blue or white
• A firm bump, often black but occasionally blue, gray, white, brown, tan, red or your usual skin tone
• A flat or slightly raised mottled tan, brown or dark brown discoloration
• A black or brown discoloration, usually under the nails, on the palms or on the soles of the feet

See more pictures and get details about different types of melanoma in our dedicated melanoma section.

More Extensive Surgery Is Needed In Some Cases

If the skin cancer is larger then a more extensive operation may be required. This may need a general anaesthetic. For example, if a large area of affected skin is cut away you may need plastic surgery to place a skin graft over the wound.

If an SCC has spread to the nearby lymph glands then an operation to remove these glands may be advised.;

How Do People Find Bcc On Their Skin

Many people find it when they notice a spot, lump, or scaly patch on their skin that is growing or feels different from the rest of their skin. If you notice any spot on your skin that is growing, bleeding, or changing in any way, see a board-certified dermatologist. These doctors have the most training and experience in diagnosing skin cancer.

To find skin cancer early, dermatologists recommend that everyone check their own skin with a skin self-exam. This is especially important for people who have a higher risk of developing BCC. Youll find out what can increase your risk of getting this skin cancer at, Basal cell carcinoma: Who gets and causes.

Images used with permission of:

• The American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

• J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:303-17.

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Symptoms Of Skin Cancer

A change on the skin, including either a new mole, variation in an existing mole, or skin lesion, is the most common warning sign of skin cancer.

• Basal cell carcinoma appears as a smooth, small, waxy, or pearly bump on the neck, face, or ears or a flat pink, red, or brown lesion on the arms and legs or trunk.
• Squamous cell carcinoma occurs as a solid, red nodule or irregular, scaly flat lesion that may bleed and become crusty.
• Melanoma appears as a brownish patch or bumps, with darker speckles resembling a normal mole, usually in an abnormal shape. Melanoma can also occur as dark lesions on several areas in your body like your palms, soles, fingertips, toes, etc.

How Does Skin Cancer Develop And What Are Its Major Risk Factors

5/13/2021

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, including three types: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Non-melanoma skin cancers contribute to 95% of all skin cancers and are curable if diagnosed and treated early. Melanoma skin cancer is the most serious type, contributing to 75% of all skin cancer deaths. If left untreated, it can spread to other organs, making it difficult to control.

Read more to learn the causes, risk factors, and symptoms of skin cancer.

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How Is Skin Cancer Diagnosed

Your provider will perform a biopsy to diagnose skin cancer and its stage and type. It involves examining your tissue sample under a microscope for any changes or abnormalities on the skin.

Contact Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates today for skin cancer diagnosis or if you have any questions about cancer.

Benign Tumors That Develop From Other Types Of Skin Cells

• Seborrheic keratoses: tan, brown, or black raised spots with a waxy texture
• Hemangiomas: benign blood vessel growths, often called strawberry spots
• Lipomas: soft growths made up of fat cells
• Warts: rough-surfaced growths caused by some types of human papilloma virus

Most of these tumors rarely, if ever, turn into cancers. There are many other kinds of benign skin tumors, but most are not very common.

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How Is Skin Cancer Treated

Treatment of skin cancer depends on the type and extent of the disease. Treatment is individualized and is determined by the type of skin cancer, its size and location, and the patient’s preference.

Standard treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer include:

• Mohs surgery : Skin-sparing excision of cancer with complete peripheral and deep margin assessment.
• Excision.
• Electrodesiccation and curettage: Scraping away the skin cancer cells followed by electrosurgery.
• Cryosurgery.
• Drugs .

Standard treatments for melanoma include:

• Wide surgical excision.
• Sentinel lymph node mapping : to determine if the melanoma has spread to local lymph nodes.
• Drugs .
• Radiation therapy.
• New methods in clinical trials are sometimes used to treat skin cancer.

Aware Of The Risks For All Water Sports Enthusiasts

With this blog post we want to encourage everyone to take good care of their skin and to protect it. Be aware of the risks of outdoor sports and especially water sports.

My personal reason for this article is that actinic keratosis I was diagnosed with in 2019. These are rough spots on the skin. It looks harmless, but it is a precursor to skin cancer. It mainly arises in places where places on your skin have been exposed to the suns ultraviolet radiation.

Actinic keratosis is benign, but it can gradually turn into squamous cell cancer if you dont do anything. So you must already be treated.

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A Dangerous Skin Cancer

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in cells known as melanocytes. While it is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma , melanoma is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.

Learn more about melanoma types, risk factors, causes, warning signs and treatment.

Melanoma Fact

Only 20-30% of melanomas are found in existing moles.

While 70-80% arise on normal-looking skin.

Basal Cell And Squamous Cell Skin Cancers

Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are by far the most common skin cancers, and actually are more common than any other form of cancer. Because they rarely spread to other parts of the body, basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are usually less concerning and are treated differently from melanoma. These cancers are discussed in Basal and Squamous Cell;Skin Cancer.

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Determining If The Cancer Has Spread

As part of your diagnosis, your doctor will also determine what stage the cancer is in. The different stages refer to whether and how far the cancer has spread in your body, on a Roman numeral scale of I to IV. A stage I cancer is small and contained to the body part where it originated, whereas a stage IV cancer has spread aggressively to other parts of the body.

Depending on the type of skin cancer that a person has, it may be more or less likely that it has spread through the body. For instance, basal cell skin cancer rarely spreads beyond the skin where it starts. However, melanomas and large squamous cell carcinomas are more likely to spread into other regions of the body. Cases of melanoma, in particular, may call for further tests to determine the specific stage theyre in.

Your doctor may evaluate multiple factors in order to stage the cancer. Using biopsies and imaging tests, your doctor may take a look at:

• The size and thickness of the tumor, and whether it has grown into surrounding tissues

• Nearby lymph nodes, to check for signs of cancer spread

How Can Vulvar Cancer Be Prevented

Vaccines are available to prevent HPV, which can cause vulvar cancer. Ask your healthcare provider about these vaccines:

• Recombinant HPV Quadrivalent Vaccine . This vaccine is approved for individuals nine to 26 years of age.
• Recombinant HPV Nonavalent Vaccine . This vaccine is approved for adults through 26 years of age. It may be given to adults up to 45 years of age if appropriate after discussing risk for new HPV infection.

There are no screening tests for vulvar cancer. The best way to reduce your risk is to be aware of the symptoms and see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of them. Also, be sure to schedule regular checkups, including a physical exam at least annually, for your gynecological health.

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Treatment For Skin Cancer

If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have multiple options for treatment. Based on the specifics of your case, your doctor will recommend your best course of action. The suggested methods for fighting the cancer may include:

• Cryotherapy. In cryotherapy, a doctor freezes and kills precancerous or cancerous skin cells using liquid nitrogen. This technique is most often used to treat minor basal or squamous carcinomas or precancerous skin conditions.

• Surgery. Different types of skin cancer may be removed by surgery. Surgery can be excisional – simply cutting out a cancerous area and the skin surrounding it – or may involve meticulous removal of layers of skin.

• Radiation therapy. In radiation therapy, energy beams are used to kill cancerous cells. Radiation therapy may help finish off a cancer that was not fully removed by surgery, and can also be instrumental in cases that dont allow for surgery.

• Chemotherapy. This type of therapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. To treat some cases of skin cancer, chemotherapy may be applied locally through topical creams or lotions. It may also be administered by IV to target multiple body parts at once.

• Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, involves boosting the immune system to fight cancer cells. With the help of strengthening medicines, the immune system may be better prepared to kill cancerous cells.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Signs And Symptoms

This type of cancer is usually found on sun-exposed areas of the skin like the scalp, forehead, face, nose, neck and back.

Basal cell carcinomas may bleed after a minor injury but then scab and heal. This can happen over and over for months or years with no visible growth, making it easy to mistake them for wounds or sores. They rarely cause pain in their earliest stages.

Appearance

In addition to the bleeding and healing, these are other possible signs of a basal cell cancer:

• A persistent open sore that does not heal and bleeds, crusts or oozes.
• A reddish patch or irritated area that may crust or itch.
• A shiny bump or nodule that is pearly or translucent and often pink, red or white. It can also be tan, black or brown, especially in dark-haired people, and easy to confuse with a mole.
• A pink growth with a slightly elevated, rolled border and a crusted indentation in the center. Tiny blood vessels may appear on the surface as the growth enlarges.
• A scar-like lesion in an area that you have not injured. It may be white, yellow or waxy, often with poorly defined borders. The skin seems shiny and tight; sometimes this can be a sign of an aggressive tumor.

Also Check: What Does Skin Cancer On The Face Look Like

Melanoma Can Be Tricky

Identifying a potential skin cancer is not easy, and not all melanomas follow the rules. Melanomas come in many forms and may display none of the typical warning signs.

Its also important to note that about 20 to 30 percent of melanomas develop in existing moles, while 70 to 80 percent arise on seemingly normal skin.

Amelanotic melanomas are missing the dark pigment melanin that gives most moles their color. Amelanotic melanomas may be pinkish, reddish, white, the color of your skin or even clear and colorless, making them difficult to recognize.

Acral lentiginous melanoma, the most common form of melanoma found in people of color, often appears in hard-to-spot places, including under the fingernails or toenails, on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

The takeaway: Be watchful for any new mole or freckle that arises on your skin, a sore or spot that does not heal, any existing mole that starts;changing; or any spot, mole or lesion that looks unusual.

Acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common melanoma found in people of color.

Where Do Skin Cancers Start

Most skin cancers start in the top layer of skin, called the;epidermis. There are 3 main types of cells in this layer:

• Squamous cells: These are flat cells in the upper part of the epidermis, which are constantly shed as new ones form.
• Basal cells: These cells are in the lower part of the epidermis, called the basal cell layer. These cells constantly divide to form new cells to replace the squamous cells that wear off the skins surface. As these cells move up in the epidermis, they get flatter, eventually becoming squamous cells.
• Melanocytes: These are the cells that can become melanoma. They normally make a brown pigment called melanin, which gives the skin its tan or brown color. Melanin protects the deeper layers of the skin from some of the harmful effects of the sun.

The epidermis is separated from the deeper layers of skin by the basement membrane. When a skin cancer becomes more advanced, it generally grows through this barrier and into the deeper layers.

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What To Do If You Notice Skin Changes

If you notice anything unusual on your skin, make an appointment to show it to your GP. It might help to take a photograph of anything unusual, so you can check for any changes. Remember there are many other skin conditions that are not cancer, especially in older people.

It can be more difficult to notice changes if you have darker skin. This is because symptoms of skin cancer may be less obvious than in people with paler skin. If you notice any changes, such as a sore that does not heal, always see your GP.

Macmillan is here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can:

Where Does Bcc Develop

As the above pictures show, this skin cancer tends to develop on skin that has had lots of sun exposure, such as the face or ears. Its also common on the bald scalp and hands. Other common areas for BCC include, the shoulders, back, arms, and legs.

While rare, BCC can also form on parts of the body that get little or no sun exposure, such as the genitals.

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Who Is At Risk For Skin Cancer

Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest in people who have fair or freckled skin that burns easily, light eyes and blond or red hair. Darker-skinned individuals are also susceptible to all types of skin cancer, although their risk is lower.

In addition to complexion, other risk factors include having a family history or personal history of skin cancer, having an outdoor job, and living in a sunny climate. A history of severe sunburns and an abundance of large and irregularly shaped moles are risk factors unique to melanoma.

Basal Cell Skin Cancer

Basal cell cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it typically develops on areas regularly exposed to the sun. This type of cancer may appear on your face, neck, or other body parts in the form of:

• Flat patches of spots, or lesions, which may be red, purple, or brown in color

• Slightly raised, brown or reddish lesions

• Fully raised, bumpy lesions with a red or brown color

If you think you may be experiencing any of the symptoms of different skin cancers described above, you should call a doctor to discuss your symptoms. You may find that you simply have a large, non-cancerous mole, and can have your concerns put to rest by a professional. On the other hand, your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition and recommend treatment sooner rather than later. Either way, it is best to be on the side of caution and speak with your doctor about what youve noticed.

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What Changes In The Skin Occur Due To Exposure To The Sun

Exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces. People think a glowing complexion means good health, but skin color obtained from being in the sun can actually speed up the effects of aging and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.

Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily in addition to taking longer to heal. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, it will definitely show later in life. The sun can also cause issues for your eyes, eyelids, and the skin around the eyes.

Changes in the skin related to sun exposure:

• Precancerous and cancerous skin lesions caused by loss of the skin’s immune function.
• Benign tumors.
• Fine and coarse wrinkles.
• Freckles; discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation; and sallowness, yellow discoloration of the skin.
• Telangiectasias, the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin.
• Elastosis, the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles.