What if I have skin cancer? How can you tell?

What are the symptoms of skin cancer?

thankyou so much everyone : )

I have had skin cancer off and on for over 4 years. I go right to the dermatologist every 4-6 months depending on how the last screening went. I had no idea and honestly, the mole that I was concerned about was not cancer and the dermatologist found something smaller that looked like a big freckle and that was my first cancer spot. It was melanoma and it scared me to death. Since then, I have had more then 20 concerned spots the dermatologist has removed and my last was in July when they had to cut into my back 3 inches "just in case" it turned into cancer.

It is hard, but I don't question them. I just want to have a professional look. No matter how many times I see what concerns them, it is alwas different and the only sign that I have seen for myself is the redness starting on a mole/freckle spot.

By the way, I'm 30 years old. They believe I got the cancer from when I was a teenager going to tan with my friends and burning to a blister on occasion. Now, I don't go to the beach without my 50+spf!

Good luck!

Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages

Signs and symptoms

There are a variety of different skin cancer symptoms. These include crabs or changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcers in the skin, discoloration, and changes in existing moles.

Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders. Sometimes small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumor frequently develops. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal.
Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. Ulceration and bleeding may occur. When SCC is not treated, it may develop into a large mass.
Most melanomas are brown to black looking lesions. Signs that might indicate a malignant melanoma include change in size, shape, color or elevation of a mole. The appearance of a new mole during adulthood, or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding

Hello,

The most common sign of skin cancer is a wound that will not heal or bleeds commonly or with little irritation (like by shaving over it.) Some are nodular (a little bump.) Others are a shallow erosion.

Melanoma is a bit different. These tend to be colored (usually black) nodules.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD