Learn More About Skin Cancer

Malignant Melanoma
Warning Signs of Melanoma Include:

Changes in the surface of a mole.
Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a new bump.
Spread of pigment from the border of a mole into surrounding skin.
Change in sensation including itchiness, tenderness, or pain.
The ABCDs of Melanoma (Click Here)

Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses or solar keratoses are considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. They are small, scaly spots most commonly found on the face, ears, neck, lower arms, and back of the hands in fair-skinned individuals who have had significant sun exposure. Actinic keratoses can be treated by cryotherapy (freezing), topical chemotherapy (applying a cream or lotion), chemical peeling, dermabrasion, laser surgery, curettage, photodynamic therapy (a chemical is applied to the skin prior to exposure to a light source), or other dermatologic surgical procedures.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and appears frequently on the head, neck and hands as a small, fleshy bump, nodule, or red patch. Other parts of the body may be affected as well. Basal cell carcinomas are frequently found in fair-skinned people and rarely occur in dark skin. They usually do not grow quickly. It can take many months or years for one to grow to a diameter of one-half inch. Untreated, the caner often will begin to bleed, crust over, heal, and repeat the cycle, and can extend below the skin to the bone and nerves, causing considerable local damage.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer; it is primarily found in fair-skinned people and rarely in dark-skinned individuals. Typically located on the rim of the ear, face, lips, and mouth, this cancer may appear as a bump, or as a red, scaly patch. It also may commonly affect the backs of the hands, forearms, and legs. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma CAN spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. This is usually a function of how large the lesion is, and how aggressive the tumor appears under the microscope.