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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 132,000 cases of melanoma and 2 to 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed worldwide annually. However, melanomas that are detected early are almost 100% treatable. It is when melanomas are left undetected and untreated that they can spread and become fatal.
Pay attention to these 12 symptoms, any of which you should consider as very serious:
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
These types of skin cancers will present as:
- Shiny or waxy bumpys
- Flat, firm or pale patches of skin
- Scar-like lesions that may be brown or skin toned
- Hard, red nodules
- Flat, rough, crusty or scaly lesions
Melanoma
Melanoma may present as:
- New or evolving spots that change in size, shape or color
- Moles or lesions that have a different appearance from others on your body
- Large, speckled brown spots
- Small lesions that are red, blue or black (or a combination of colors) and have blurry or irregular edges
- Dark lesions on the fingertips or palms, toes or soles of feet, or in the mouth
Less common cancerous skin conditions
Symptoms of lesser-known skin cancers include:
- Shiny or firm nodules can indicate Merkel Cell or Sebaceous Gland Carcinomas
- Red or Purple patches of skin can indicate Kaposi Sarcoma
If you notice any of these symptoms you should see your dermatologist or schedule a Skin Surveillance Program appointment with MoleSafe as soon as you can. Delaying a skin exam, especially if you are at higher risk of skin cancer, may have serious or deadly consequences. Make sure you have your skin assessed on a regular basis to ensure early detection of skin cancer.