Symptoms
Skin cancers can appear as moles, scaly patches, open sores, or raised bumps. They most often develop in areas that have had exposure to the sun, such as your back, legs, arms and face. But melanomas can also occur in areas that don't receive much sun exposure, such as the soles of your feet, palms of your hands, and on fingernail beds. Some signs to look for include:
Basal Cell Carcinoma:
- A flat, scaly red patch
- A small, smooth, shiny, or waxy bump (bumps may bleed or develop a crust)
- A patch with large blood vessels (may look like a birthmark)
- A brown or black raised bump
Squamous Cell Carcinoma:
- A flat, scaly red patch (may look similar to a skin rash)
- A small, smooth, shiny, or waxy bump (bumps may bleed or develop a crust)
- A red or brown scaly skin patch
Malignant melanoma:
- A new mole
- A mole that is getting bigger
- A mole that changes color or shape
- A mole that bleeds
- A mole that itches or causes pain
- A mole with an uneven border or shape
The signs can vary, depending on the form of skin cancer. Different types of skin cancer share some of the same signs, so it's important to get any moles or bumps of concern checked.
If you have these symptoms, it is important to be seen by the Miami Valley Hospital’s cancer team who has expertise in treating this specific disease.