Common Symptoms of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can be described as a malignant condition of the integumentary system. This is the most common form of cancer. Most of the skin cancer types arise from the uppermost layer of the skin (called epidermis). The sun-exposed sites of our skin like face, scalp, hands, lips, ears, neck and chest are the areas where skin cancer is common. But it can develop in the non-tanned areas like genitalia and finger web spaces. People with white complexion are more affected and there is no such gender bias. There are three major types of skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Symptoms of skin cancer vary depending upon the types. Common symptoms of skin carcinoma are –

• Small lump over the skin – a tiny lump may be the first symptom of skin cancer. The lump will be small, glittery, whitish pink to white in color, firm in consistency. Gradually the lump will increase in size and will be looking angry. The color will change to gray, black or green. The consistency will change from firm to hard. The outer margin will be serrated. Ultimately it will turn into a fungating growth.

• Easy bleeding from the lump – there will be bleeding from the outer surface of the lump. Typically the bleeding will be painless. This occurs because the superficial nerves become damaged by the cancerous cells. The bleeding occurs even after you consider the lesion is healed. The lump bleeds even after trivial injury which may not be there in other part of our body.

• Sometimes the area of the cancer is a rough and encrusted patch over the sun-exposed part of the body. The color of the lesion may be red or reddish brown. The peripheral area of the lesion will be elevated from the surrounding and the margin will be irregular.

• Melanoma is a distinctive malignant skin condition. You may notice a dark mole in the non-tanned part of your body. The mole grows in size quickly and becomes a large one. The lesion is dark brown or black, depending upon the complexion of the patient. There is pain in the area. In adult, malignant melanoma can occur in a newly formed mole. The lesion is itchy, quickly ulcerates and does not heal after a course of systemic and topical antibiotic.

• Kaposi’s sarcoma is a special type of skin cancer where cancerous transformation occurs in the small blood vessels of the skin and mucous membrane. The condition is highly malignant and is usually seen as purple or red patches over the skin. This condition is common in a patient with AIDS.

• Sebaceous cell carcinoma is one type of adenocarcinoma which arises from the sebaceous cells present in the upper layer of the skin. This is also a highly malignant condition spreading rapidly to the adjacent lymph nodes. The most common area for sebaceous cell carcinoma is eyelid.

It is estimated that almost 80% of the total skin cancer patients, they give a history of over exposure to sun-rays. Over 150,000 new cases are found in the US each year having complains and diagnosed as skin cancer.