Medical Questions » Skin Cancer Questions » Question No. 898
| Question: | I was a sun bunny in my youth, and now I am petrified that I will develop a disfiguring skin cancer. If one is going to come, I would like it removed before it causes any serious damage. What are the danger signs to look for with skin cancer? |
| Answer: | Australia is blessed with far more sunshine than most nations with a predominantly white-skinned population. As a result, it is also blessed with a far greater percentage of sun-induced skin cancers.
Nasty skin spots fall into several different categories.
Cancers of the outermost layer of skin are called squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). They occur most commonly on the exposed parts of the body such as the face, scalp, arms and hands. An SCC looks like a red spot covered in fine white scales. They may be itchy or sore, but often attract attention because they are unsightly.
Another type of tumour develops if the next layer down in the skin is involved. These growths are called basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and are generally not as serious as the more superficial cancers. They appear as shiny, rounded lumps that often change in size and colour.
Malignant melanomas are the most serious and deadly of them all. Even with the best medical care, a significant proportion of these patients will die, often because they have been seen too late by a doctor. Melanomas can be flat or raised as lumps, and can be any colour from mid-pink ro jet black. They are due to overgrowth of the layer of skin that causes pigment to be laid down in the skin. Because they are deeper in the skin, they can move more easily to other parts of the body.
The signs to watch for in a spot or sore are:
• any change in colour, shape or size
• soreness or itchiness
• bleeding or weeping.
If any of these signs occur, see your doctor immediately! It is far better to find out the truth now, be it good or bad, than to worry for months unnecessarily, or have a far worse outcome because of the delay. |
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