Skin cancer - signs and symptoms.

The most common signs that can be noticed by a patient before consulting a doctor are:

• Changes in color and size of a mole, a new skin growth, bump or node.
• Changes in the skin color of the surrounding areas of the mole (the skin can become red or swollen, or the pigmentation will spread beyond the border of the spot, mark or mole)
• Appearance changes like a scaly, oozing, bleeding, fragile, and a crusted or ulcerated look.
• Sensation changes of the mole, skin growth or bump skin like itching, burning, tenderness or painful sensation

According to the American Cancer Society's ABCD detection system for skin cancer, a mole's appearance may undergo 4 different changes:

• Asymmetry: One half of the mole or the new skin growth does not match the other half.
• Border irregularity: The edges of the mole or the new skin growth are irregular (ragged, notched or blurred).
• Color changes: The pigmentation of the mole or the new skin growth is different and varies from one area to another including shades of tan, brown%
• Diameter:  Any mole or lesion greater then the size of a pencil eraser (greater then 6 mm in diameter) should be examined by a physician and considered suspicious

Notes: FCbinderMD

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EditText of this page (last edited August 13, 2010)