Skin Changes That May Signal Cancer
Monthly skin checks can help reveal a new or changing mark before it becomes harder to treat.
A mark that differs from your usual moles or freckles may warrant medical attention. Warning signs include growth, bleeding, or a sore that does not close. Skin cancer affects an estimated one in five Americans during their lives. Finding it sooner can allow treatment to begin earlier.
Basal cell carcinoma represents roughly eight in every 10 skin cancers. It often develops where sunlight regularly reaches the body and may resemble a stubborn blemish. It grows slowly, seldom travels elsewhere, and is highly treatable. Squamous cell carcinoma makes up around two in 10 cases. It may appear as a lasting red or pink area, a bump, or a flat mark that becomes raised. Early cases are generally straightforward to treat.
Melanoma comprises only 1% of skin cancers, but it can move through the body if missed. The ABCDE method helps identify concerning changes. Actinic keratosis is not cancer, though some lesions later become squamous cell cancer. Merkel cell carcinoma is also uncommon, with only 2,000 diagnoses annually, yet it can advance quickly. It occurs most often after age 70, and diagnosis is nearly twice as common among men as women.
- Basal cell spots may bleed after shaving or slight trauma.
- A suspected cut still open after roughly a week deserves attention.
- Sun-exposed areas are frequent sites for several skin cancer types.
- Merkel cell carcinoma often appears on the face, neck, arms, or legs.
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