Different Skin Cancers Types with Pictures/Images to give you an idea of What does Skin Cancers Look Like?
The skin assumes a major role in regulating body temperatures, protecting us from microbes and permitting sensations of touch, warmth and cold. It additionally makes vitamin D and gets rid of waste products through the sweat glands. It comprises of two layers; the epidermis and the dermis.
Cancer is a disease in which normal cells undergo change, grow and duplicate without normal control. Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. This implies that the abnormal cells grow in a disorganized fashion, invade the encompassing tissue and disrupt normal tissue function. Most often develops on skin that has soaked up the sun for years.
What do Skin Cancers Types Look Like?
Generally, skin cancer can occur on nose, cheek, face, wrist, arm, leg, feed, stomach or any part of body. During Skin cancer Diagnosis through physical exam, doctors or dermatologists examine and evaluate abnormal skin form on the bases of shape, symmetry, border, color, diameter and changes.
When skin cells change and become abnormal, they can cause pre-cancerous conditions. Let’s have a look at different types of skin cancers and What do these skin cancers types look like?
Melanoma Skin Cancer
Melanoma Skin Cancer is the deadliest form of cancer. It originates in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Clinically, it can be identified through a skin biopsy.
Melanoma Skin Cancer is life-threatening and can grow very quickly. It develops when unrepaired DNA damage to the skin cells triggers mutations that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.
Melanoma Skin Cancer often resembles or may develop from moles. Brown or black skin lesions but can appear as pink, red, blue or white. These cancerous growths have irregular symmetry, edges that may be scalloped or notched and are larger in diameter (more than 7mm). There may be spread of pigment from the border of a spot into the surrounding skin. Melanoma skin cancer may be accompanied by both change in sensation (itchiness, pain) and surface of the mole (oozing. scaliness, bleeding).
Please find below the Melanoma Skin Cancer Pictures/Images to check for Skin Sign and Symptoms through ABCDE method:
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Types
This refers to a group of cancers that gradually develop in the upper layers of the skin and are not melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma (cancer) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are the two divisions in this category. They procure their names from the kind of cells they start from or influence. The previous begins in the cells lining the bottom of the epidermis. SCC starts in the cells lining the top of the epidermis.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Skin Cancer
Cancer of the basal cells occurs at the bottom of the epidermis. It is slow growing and doesn’t spread to other body parts. It affects both fair (more prone) and dark skin. On the skin, it appears as raised, wavy bumps that are fragile and may bleed following minor injuries.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Skin Cancer may appear pink, brown or black. At first, BCC comes up like a small pearl-like bump that looks like a flesh coloured mole or a pimple that doesn’t heal. At times the skin growths may be waxy and hard. They may have superficial blood vessels and a central depression. BCC is common on the head, arms, neck, trunk, nose and parts of the face. This is due to the damage of DNA over time by UV rays or from indoor tanning.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Skin Cancer can be cured completely if detected and treated early. This serves to avoid invasion of the surrounding tissues, growth into the nerves and bones, which could result to damage and disfigurement.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Skin Cancer
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Skin Cancer arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of the cells of the epithelium, squamous cells. It affects areas that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other UV radiations such as rim of the ear, balding scalp, face, lower lip, arms and legs.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Skin Cancer can vary greatly in their appearance. They appear as a red firm bump, scaly patch that grows slowly (might crust or bleed), elevated growth with a central depression or a sore that heals and then re-opens. Large growths may itch or hurt. SCC can spread to the tissues, bones and nearby lymph nodes making its treatment difficult.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Skin Cancer is invasive and more aggressive in transplant patients. This is due to use of chronic immunosuppressive medications. Bowen’s disease (Carcinoma in situ) and Actinic Keratosis if not treated could prompt its advancement.
T-Cell Lymphoma Skin Cancer
Caused abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes that are thymus derived. Lymphoma refers to the cancer that starts in the lymphocyte cells. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is divided into two categories: Mycosis fungoides (indolent) and Sezary syndrome (aggressive). MF appears to be patchier, itchy, plagues may form, large irregular bumps that may ulcerate or red lesions. These signs and symptoms are dependent on the four stages. In Sezary syndrome, most of the skin is involved. The skin is also very itchy, thickened, and dry, having a red rash.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma Skin Cancer
It is a rare cancer of the cells that line blood vessels (endothelial tissues). It is caused by a herpes virus called human herpes virus-8. Unlike other cancers, Kaposi’s sarcoma can start in several areas of the body at the same time. KS causes tumours to grow under the skin and in mucosal membranes. These lesions most often appear in the legs and face. The lesions are flat, painless and may grow into raised bumps. Colours of these external lesions may include black, blue, red, deep purple or brown.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) Skin Cancer
MCC emerges from the uncontrolled development of the merkel cells in the skin. These cells are ordinarily close to the nerve endings and they help us react to touch. This type of cancer is also referred to as trabucular cancer or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. It is caused by long exposure to sunlight or treatments that weaken the immune system. It affects areas such as head and neck. MCC shows up as a firm, painless nodule, bluish red in colour and about 1-5cm in diameter. The skin over them is frequently not ulcerated. Growth of this cancer type is very exceptionally quick.
