Signs of Skin Cancer: Symptoms of Melanoma and Carcinoma

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every day and that one in five Americans will have skin cancer in their lifetime. Not many people are aware that their chances of developing melanoma or other skin cancers  are actually pretty high.

Dr Saami is an expert at diagnosing these conditions and performs surgery and light based treatments  for skin cancer at our clinic in La Mesa. Since early detection is an advantage when we’re fighting against cancerous cells in the skin, we’d like to invite you to do a self-assessment and check if any anomalies that you’re seeing or feeling on your skin are actually symptoms of cancer.

These are the signs of skin cancer that you should look out for:

Cancerous Moles (Melanoma)

Moles tend to be harmless. They are simply clusters of melanocytes, skin cells that produce the protective, visible pigment called melanin. Melanin plays an important role: it protects the body from harmful UVA and UVB rays and acts as an antioxidant that rids the body of free radicals.

Ironically, melanin can also turn cancerous when it gets damaged due to excessive exposure to UV rays. Essentially, melanin cells can mutate and cause melanoma when UV radiation overpowers its ability to protect the body. Melanoma may  emerge as a result.

It’s difficult to distinguish cancerous moles from regular moles when they are still in the early stage of mutation. The key is to keep a constant watch over your existing moles and check for any suspicious changes in their appearance. Keep a lookout for new moles and be observant of changes in their shape or color.

Here are other signs that a mole has potentially developed into melanoma:

●         It feels tender or slightly painful

●         It’s itchy

●         It bleeds

●         It is changing in its appearance

●         It becomes  red, dry, or  crusty.

The most important indicator of melanoma is a mole that is an “ugly duckling.” That is, people tend to make moles that look like their other moles -- everyone has their own signature mole pattern. When a mole starts to look different than the rest of your moles and turns into the “ugly duckling” that stands out from the rest, this mole should be evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist to assess for the development of melanoma in this lesion.

Bumps, Lumps, and Open Sores (Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinomas)

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that also occurs due to excessive and frequent sun exposure. Basal cells lie on the bottom layer of the epidermis. They are responsible for producing new skin cells that replace the worn-off squamous cells that make up the outermost layer of the epidermis.

UV radiation can cause basal cells to turn cancerous. They usually emerge in areas that are often exposed to sunlight, like the face and neck.

Fully-developed basal cell carcinoma is distinguishable by its appearance:

●         Visible bumps, usually pearly-white (sometimes almost translucent) but may also be pinkish.

●         Pinkish bumps are thick on the edges and slightly indented at the center

●         Tiny blood vessels are visible on and around the bump.

●         Skin sores that don’t heal after a couple weeks.

This type of skin cancer rarely spreads, but it can continue to grow locally and increase in size. It may grow by direct extension into bone, lymph nodes, and other vulnerable tissues and organs nearby but does not spread to distant sites.

Squamous cell carcinoma also takes shape as red bumps or nodules. The difference is that these bumps typically have a rough surface. Sometimes they don’t form nodules but emerge as painful, red sores .

These are the symptoms you need to look out for:

●         Firm, reddish nodules or domed bumps

●         Red patches of skin that are scaly, rough to the touch, and may be quick to bleed

●         Open sores or lesions that don’t heal quickly

●         Formation of yellowish to dark brown scab on the red patches of skin.

Unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to distant  tissues, bone, and lymph nodes, and when squamous cell carcinoma metastasizes the prognosis is poor. Timely diagnosis and immediate treatment and removal are crucial, as delay in treatment may lead to progression of disease and even death. .

Skin Cancer Treatment in La Mesa and San Diego

If you’re showing any of these symptoms, stay calm and call Dr Saami. If you’re from La Mesa or San Diego, we can schedule a consultation so that Dr Saami can personally assess your condition. Should you get an official diagnosis, we can perform skin cancer surgery at our La Mesa clinic to remove the cancerous cells with special attention to ensuring the least visible scar with the maximal rate of cancer clearance.

Stop skin cancer before it can even wreak havoc on your health. Call Dr Saami at (619) 462-1670 or send a message through our contact form.