Latest news with #basal cell carcinoma
Health Line
4 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Skin Cancer Symptoms And Images
Key takeaways Skin cancer often appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, chest, arms, and hands. However, it can also develop in other areas. Different types of skin cancer – such as actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma – have distinct appearances. Some symptoms include scaly patches, sores that don't heal, shiny bumps, and moles with irregular features. Regular self-exams and annual check-ups with a doctor, along with sun protection measures, are important for early detection and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer most often develops on areas of your body that get the greatest exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. It's commonly found on your face, chest, arms, and hands. It can affect anyone. Even if you've never had a sunburn, you're at risk of developing skin cancer. In People of Color, it's often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This could be due to different factors like access to healthcare, delay in detection, or presentation. Because of lack of research, there are limited resources for recognizing darkly pigmented lesions in People of Color. Skin cancer can also develop on less exposed areas of your body, like: scalp ears lips neck under your fingernails bottoms of your feet genitals Skin cancers often appear as a suspicious mole, freckle, or spot. But accompanying symptoms depend on the type of skin cancer. Actinic keratosis An actinic keratosis, known as a precancer, is a scaly or crusty lesion. It most commonly appears on various areas of your body: scalp face ears lips back of your hands forearms shoulders neck These areas are most frequently exposed to the sun. These lesions are sometimes so small that they're found by touch instead of sight. They're often raised and may feel like a small patch of sandpaper on your skin. Depending on your skin tone, the lesions may be red, light or dark tan, white, pink, flesh tones, or a combination of colors. It's important to treat actinic keratosis early. Untreated lesions have up to a 10 percent chance of becoming squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma develops in your basal skin cells. These cells are at the bottom of your epidermis, the outer layer of your skin. Basal cell carcinoma has several different appearances. It can look like a: sore that doesn't heal after seven to 10 days red patch that may itch, hurt, crust, or bleed easily shiny bump that can be pink, red, or white or brown on lighter skin. If you have darker skin, it can look tan, black, or brown. pink growth with an elevated border and an indented center This type of skin cancer also usually appears on the areas of your body most exposed to the sun. Basal cell carcinomas tend to be easy to treat. These growths develop very slowly, making it less likely they'll spread to other organs or invade muscle, bone, or nerves. But you should talk with your doctor if you notice anything new or changes to your skin or if a wound or sore isn't healing. Squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur on more sun-exposed body parts. They can also appear on the inside of your mouth or on your genitals. It's the most common skin cancer in Black people. The tumors caused by squamous cell carcinoma can take a variety of forms, including: scaly, red to burgundy, or flesh-toned patches that bleed open sores that bleed, crust, and don't heal tender, raised growths with a center indent that bleeds a growth that resembles a wart, but crusts and bleeds Squamous cell carcinoma is also known to may feel tender and cause intense itching, which further irritates and inflames your skin. Scratching these areas of your skin can lead to infections that need to be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can grow larger. In rare cases, these lesions can spread to lymph nodes and other organs. Melanoma While melanoma isn't the most common type of skin cancer, it's the most serious. This type of skin cancer can be found anywhere on your body, even in your eye. In People of Color, it often occurs in areas that get little sun exposure, usually on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and nails. For individuals who have light or fair skin, it can be often found on the trunk or lower legs. Use the 'ABCDE' method to help determine if a mole or freckle may be melanoma. You'll want to see your doctor if any of these symptoms apply. A: asymmetrical If you drew a line down the middle of a healthy mole, both sides would look very similar. Cancerous moles are asymmetrical. This means that one half of a cancerous mole looks very different from the other. B: border The edges of a healthy freckle or mole should look smooth and fairly even. Ragged, raised, or notched borders can be a sign of cancer. C: change in color A healthy freckle or mole should be a uniform color. Color variation may be caused by cancer. Keep an eye out for different shades of: tan brown black red white blue D: diameter A mole or freckle that's larger than 6 millimeters (about the diameter of a pencil eraser) may be a sign of skin cancer. E: evolving Take note of any new moles or freckles. You should also look for changes in the color or size of your existing moles. Treating skin cancer Most types of skin cancer that are diagnosed in the early stages are treated by removing the lesion. This can be done in several ways: Cryosurgery. Liquid nitrogen is applied to your growth to freeze it. The growth then falls off or shrinks without any incisions. This method is often used to treat actinic keratosis. Curettage and electrodesiccation. Your growth is scraped off with an instrument known as a curette. The area is then burned with an electrocautery needle to destroy any remaining skin cancer cells. Creams. Your doctor may prescribe topical preparations like imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) and 5-fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex). You use these creams for several weeks to remove actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinomas. Excisional surgery. Your growth and the surrounding skin that appears healthy are removed with a scalpel. The healthy skin is then tested for evidence of skin cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, the procedure is repeated. Cancer that's spread to your lymph nodes or other organs will require more invasive treatments. This may include chemotherapy or surgery. Talk with your doctor about the treatment option that's best for you. Preventing skin cancer You can lower your risk of developing skin cancer with these prevention tips: Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF every day. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside. If you're sweating a lot or swimming, reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. Avoid the sun between peak sun hours, which are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must be outside, wear sunglasses, hats, and light clothing that will cover your skin. Do a self-examination of your skin at least once a month.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I thought a bump on my forehead was just a pimple... then I got a shocking diagnosis
Emily Haley inherited her father's fair complexion, and was diligent all her life about wearing SPF on her face and body. She knew skin cancer was a possibility, given her parents' history of skin cancer, but when a strange spot appeared on her forehead, she thought it was a pimple. The spot appeared a little over a year ago and lasted for months, though Haley thought nothing of it. She figured it would go away like any other pimple eventually does. It started turning red in December 2024. She brought it up to her dermatologist at her next visit, Dr Hooman Khorasani, a dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon based in New York. When Dr Khorasani examined the spot under a microscope, he thought it looked suspicious. He could see certain blood vessels not seen in normal acne. After collecting a small bit of tissue and running some tests, Dr Khorasani called Haley with crushing news: the spot was basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer. It results from specific mutations in skin cells and, while they can be sporadic, they're generally a result of exposure to UV radiation. Hearing the word cancer come out of her doctor's mouth was scary, but he assured her that, because they caught the cancer early, she had an excellent prognosis. BCC grows slowly and seldom metastasizes. When caught early, localized cases are typically curable, with a near 100 percent five-year survival rate—among the highest of all cancers. Haley had surgery scheduled for a few weeks after her diagnosis. Dr. Khorasani would perform a Mohs micrographic surgery on her forehead, which involves removing thin layers of tissue very precisely, continually checking the layers under a microscope until all the cancerous cells have been eliminated. Even Haley's doctor was hesitant to believe the small red bump was cancer. Haley was only 31, and the age group most often diagnosed with this type of cancer is 70 to 79-year-olds. But Haley had a family history on both sides. Her mother developed the same kind of cancer in her 60s, about seven years ago, and her dad developed precancerous skin growths when he was in his 50s. She told Women's Health: 'My family history combined with my alabaster skin made it feel almost unavoidable that I'd face a similar fate. 'But in an attempt to protect myself, I stuck to my sunscreen routine, never used tanning beds, and visited a dermatologist annually for skin cancer screenings. 'Developing basal cell carcinoma despite my good habits (and getting diagnosed decades earlier in life than my parents) came as a shock. It was a stark reminder that skin cancer can happen to anyone at any time.' She was initially concerned about the scar that would result from the Mohs surgery. Some degree of scarring is to be expected, but as a marketing professional in the beauty industry, minimizing the signs of her cancer was important. 'The state of my scar and the various bandages covering it naturally drew attention, but not necessarily the kind I wanted,' she said. 'I didn't always feel like explaining myself or revealing that I had been dealing with cancer. However, I'm comforted by the fact that this phase in my life won't last forever.' BCC is far more common than its deadly cousin melanoma, with around 5.4 million diagnoses made every year. Generally related to sun exposure, the cancer develops when cells in the upper layer of the skin begin to divide uncontrollably, forming a pinkish patch that might be tender or itchy. Doctors are typically able to remove it via Mohs surgery, which bumps the survival rate up to 99 percent. It's also becoming more common. According to the NIH, case rates have risen between 20 and 80 percent over the last 30 years, especially among the ever-growing senior population. Dr. Khorasani continues to perform outpatient procedures to smooth out the scar, including Dermabrasion and CO₂ laser resurfacing, which remove outer skin layers and stimulate collagen. Vascular lasers reduce redness by targeting blood vessels, while Bellafill injections fill in raised or indented scars. Botox can prevent scar stretching by relaxing nearby muscles. Haley said: 'Nevertheless, the healing process since the surgery hasn't always been picture-perfect (my scar looks especially red immediately after treatments), but on good days, I'm happy to say that you'd hardly know the scar is there thanks to all the help from my doctor and his team.' Since the scare, she has become much more diligent about protecting her skin, reapplying SPF throughout the day, wearing hats and rash guards at the beach, and visiting her dermatologist for comprehensive body exams every six months, as recommended by the American Cancer Society. The clinic she goes to uses artificial intelligence to analyze high-quality photos of her whole body to determine whether she has developed any cancerous moles. So far, she is cancer-free. 'After months of walking around with various hats and scar coverings, I no longer worry what other people think of me or how I look,' she said. 'When someone asks about my scar, I'm happy to share my story. Because if opening up helps even one person catch something early, protect their skin, or feel less alone, then it's all been worth it. And in the meantime? I'll be rocking my favorite hat.'
