Thursday, 28 July 2011

Skin Cancer Symptoms

A basal cell carcinoma (BCC) usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck, or shoulders.
  • Small blood vessels may be visible within the tumor.

  • A central depression with crusting and bleeding (ulceration) frequently develops.

  • A BCC is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal.
A squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is commonly a well-defined, red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin.
  • Like BCCs, SCCs may ulcerate and bleed.

  • Left untreated, SCC may develop into a large mass.
The majority of malignant melanomas are brown to black pigmented lesions.
  • Warning signs include change in size, shape, color, or elevation of a mole.

  • The appearance of a new mole during adulthood, or new pain, itching, ulceration, or bleeding of an existing mole should all be checked by a health-care provider.
The following easy-to-remember guideline, "ABCD," is useful for identifying malignant melanoma:
  • Asymmetry-One side of the lesion does not look like the other.

  • Border irregularity-Margins may be notched or irregular.

  • Color-Melanomas are often a mixture of black, tan, brown, blue, red, or white.

  • Diameter-Cancerous lesions are usually larger than 6 mm across (about the size of a pencil eraser), but any change in size may be sign

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