Symptoms of skin cancer are different

Although the cases in Indonesia are not as common as breast cancer or lung cancer, skin cancer is still just as dangerous. Skin cancer is one of the most life threatening types of cancer. There are five types of skin cancer that you can distinguish from each of their characteristics. Well, this article will help you recognize the symptoms of skin cancer based on the type.

Detect symptoms of skin cancer based on the type

1. Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, this condition is the number one case of skin cancer in the world. About 8 in 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. This cancer tends to grow slowly, but it cannot spread to other parts of the body.

Basal cell carcinoma can be completely cured if it is quickly detected and treated early.

Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma cancer (source: Cancer.org)

How to detect the symptoms of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer

At first, basal cell carcinoma appears as small flat, dense, shiny "pearl" bumps that look like pimples that don't go away. Sometimes the color can look yellowish, similar to a scar.

This cancer may also look like a pink mole that is shiny and slightly scaly. You may see dome-shaped skin growths that have blood vessels in them. It can be pink, brown, or black.

Another symptom to watch out for is hard, waxy skin growths. This cancer may also manifest as an open sore that doesn't heal (has crusted edges or is oozing discharge), or it may heal but then come back.

Basal cell carcinoma can occur in any part of the body. But it often appears on the face, neck, and ears that grow very slowly, even for years after intense or long-term sun exposure.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is similar to basal cell carcinoma. They tend to be red bumps that have long disappeared.

This type of cancer can grow to deeper layers of the skin and spread to other parts of the body, but can be prevented if treated and detected early.

Symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma cancer (source: Cancer.org)

How to detect squamous cell carcinoma?

Symptoms of this skin cancer are usually a mole or wart that is raised up or appears domed with a lower niche in the middle. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, lump or wound squamous cell carcinoma is pale and usually not shiny.

The squamous cell carcinoma mole has a smooth surface and feels itchy or painful when scratched. These cancers can also take the form of red warts that are rough or scaly textured, which may crust or bleed when scratched.

3. Actinic Keratosis

According to dr. Anthony Rossi, MD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, actinic kerastosis is an early symptom of skin cancer caused by excessive sun exposure. In some cases, actinic kerastosis can develop into squamous cell skin cancer.

Symptoms of actinic kerastosis skin cancer (source: Coastal Dermatology and Plastic Surgery)

How to detect skin cancer symptomsactinic kerastosis

Symptoms of skin cancer usually manifest as red lesions that are rough and scaly in texture. They can be large and small. The lesions sometimes cause itching and pain, as well as the appearance of excess flesh around the affected body.

Actinic kerastosis often appears on the face, lips, ears, backs of hands, and arms, but can occur in other areas that are frequently exposed to the sun.

4. Melanoma cancer

Melanoma cancer is one of the rare and deadliest types of skin cancer. Melanoma occurs when melanocyte cells (cells that produce skin color pigment) grow abnormally into cancer.

Symptoms of melanoma skin cancer (source: Mayo Clinic)

How to detect melanoma skin cancer symptoms

Melanoma cancer initially usually appears as dark spots similar to an ordinary mole that change in size, shape, or color. Melanoma can also appear on areas of the skin that have never had a mole before. It most commonly appears on the back, legs, hands and face.

However, to be able to distinguish which moles are normal and which moles are symptomatic of skin cancer, follow the “ABCDE” guidelines below:

• Asymmetry (unsymmetrical size and shape): A normal mole has a perfectly symmetrical shape, the size of the edges will be the same on the left and right. Moles have melanoma skin cancer symptoms irregular shape and size, because the cells on one side are growing faster than the other.
• Border (uneven edges): The edges of a normal mole will have clear boundaries, you can see where your true skin tone ends and where the typical brownish color of a mole starts. Melanoma cancer moles have random, blurry-looking edges, sometimes jagged like someone coloring outside the lines.
• Color (different colors): Normal moles have a solid, uniform color on all sides, only dark brown or light brown, or deep black. If you have a mole multiple hues in one location, this may be a symptom of melanoma skin cancer. For example, in the middle it is pink which gradually darkens reddish at the edges, or the opposite (a mole that is red or pink is normal). Cancer moles can also show completely different colored patches in one place, for example red, white, grayish in one mole.
• Diameter (size): Normal birthmarks will stay the same size over time. A mole grow suddenly, greater than 6 mm, can indicate melanoma cancer. Especially if the mole really just appears and immediately gets bigger.
• Evolve (developing and changing): A mole that changes color, size, texture, and shape so that it looks completely different than all the other moles on your skin can be a symptom of melanoma. Melanoma moles also itch, or maybe can bleed.

5. Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is the rarest and most dangerous skin cancer. This skin cancer can grow and spread quickly to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Merkel cell skin cancer (source:
https://www.merkelcell.org/resources/pictures-of-merkel-cell-carcinoma/)

How to detect Merkel cell carcinoma?

The form of Merkel cell carcinoma tends to be small, painless, various colors (red, pink, purple) and even shiny. This cancer usually develops on the face, neck, forehead, or arms, but can develop anywhere and grow rapidly.