The Symptoms of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is alarmingly common, with around a million new cases diagnosed each and every year in the United States alone. Skin cancer can be fatal. It is responsible for more than 10,000 deaths each year. Skin cancer is especially dangerous for Asian, Latinos and African-Americans, although the risk of getting it is lower for these ethnicities.

In most cases, skin cancer is caused by overexposure to the sun. This means that skin cancer can be avoided by taking steps to protect your skin from the sun's deadly UV rays. Using sunscreen or wearing clothing that covers most of the skin is a good place to start.

The good news is that skin cancer is a very treatable form of cancer. However, to treat skin cancer, or any kind of cancer effectively, it is important to recognize the warning signs. Here are some common symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common type:

* Small lumps on the skin. These lumps may take the form of a mole, or just a spot. These lumps will often appear to be pale and shiny or waxy. These sorts of lumps tend to be smooth. A second type of lump that can be a symptom of skin cancer is a red firm mole.

* Sores. sometimes, you might have a sore that bleeds, and that becomes crusty. Sometimes, you may have a sore that just won't seem to heal. These can be symptoms of skin cancer.

* Scaly patches. Rough patches of skin that feel scaly, or areas of the skin that are scaly, flat, and red to brown in color can all be indicative of skin cancer.

* Growths. Any time you see a new growth, it is possible that it is a result of skin cancer. Obviously, the vast majority of growths on the skin are merely blemishes caused by clogged pores, or even another problem such as warts. Suspicious growths, however, are ones that don't go away, even with treatment.

If you believe that you are experiencing skin cancer symptoms, you should speak with your healthcare provider immediately. As with any other form of cancer, or any other treatable disease, for that matter, identifying the problem early gives an exponential boost to the odds that treatment will be effective.

Source: Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/ds00190/dsection=symptoms