The skin cancer occurs when cells grow abnormally and out of control. Skin cancer most often develops on areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight.
There are three identified types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the latter is the most serious but the least common. Melanoma can form anywhere on the body, in normal skin or in an existing mole that becomes cancerous.
Melanoma most often appears on the face or trunk of affected men.
In the women, this type of cancer most often develops in the lower legs. In both men and women, melanoma can occur on skin that has not been exposed to the sun.
How to detect melanoma skin cancer
The most important sign for melanoma is a new mole on the skin or an existing one that has changed in size, shape, or color.
If you have any of these signs, see your doctor for a skin check.
The ABCDE rule is another method to identify the common signs of melanoma. Stay alert and notify your doctor if you notice moles that have any of the following characteristics:
- A is for Asymmetry: half of the mole or birthmark does not match the other half
- B for Border: the borders are jagged, uneven, jagged, or poorly defined
- C for Color: Color is not uniform and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with flecks of pink, red, blue, or white
- D for Diameter: The mole is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch or about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this
- E is for Evolution: The size, shape, or color of the mole is changing
There are other warning signs that you should be aware of such as the appearance of an ulcer or sore that does not heal, spread of pigment from the edge of a spot to the surrounding skin, redness or new swelling beyond the edge of the mole, change in sensation (itching, tenderness, or pain), change in the surface of a mole (scaling, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule).
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If you have any of these symptoms, a more detailed medical study can help rule out or confirm a diagnosis.
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