What Are the Signs of Cutaneous Cancer?

Warning Signs of Cutaneous Cancer

Cutaneous cancer will appear differently depending on which type you have. The most common kinds of skin cancer or cutaneous cancer are basal cell carcinoma or basalioma skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Rarer varieties of cutaneous cancer include Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and Kaposi’s sarcoma.

A change on your skin is the most typical warning sign of cutaneous cancer – either a new growth or a change in an existing mole or growth. The ABCDE Rule is one way to spot signs of cutaneous cancer to look out for. A stands for asymmetry – watch out for moles with an irregular shape. B is for border – cutaneous cancer will usually have blurry or irregularly-shaped edges. C is for color – cutaneous cancer tends to have an unusual color or combination of colors. D is for diameter – one sign to watch out for is a spot that is larger than the size of a pencil eraser. E is for evolving – look out for growths that are becoming larger, or changing in shape, color, or size, or other symptoms.

Some of the most common signs of basal cell carcinoma include a pearly or waxy bump, a lesion that is flat, flesh-colored, or brown, that may have a scar-like appearance, or a bleeding or scabbing sore. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as a red, firm nodule or as a flat lesion with a scaly or crusted surface. Some signs associated with melanoma include large brownish spots or growths with black speckles, moles that change in color, size, or texture, or bleed, painful lesions that itch or burn, lesions with irregular borders, lesions that are pink, white, blue, or bluish black, and dark lesions on areas such as the palms, soles, fingertips, or toes.