Skin Cancer, Does it look like a brown spot?
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There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanoma. The first two are slow-growing and easy to treat, but malignant melanoma is a dangerous, fast-growing cancer that spreads very quickly.
The majority of melanomas occur on the head, neck, arms and back - ie the skin exposed most to sunlight. Most of them are very dark or black, but they can sometimes be lighter brown or even speckled. The surface is usually raised and sometimes rough. They are not normally circular in shape, but some can be quite close to a circle. In their early stages, they often look like a mole, but with a ragged outline or different shades of colour in it. Sometimes, they appear to be a mole that is bleeding, oozing or crusty. However, the most important thing is that melanomas usually change shape or colour as they grow. Any spot that changes colour or shape should be reported to your doctor.
The vast majority of basal cell carcinomas occur on the face. They start as a small, pink, pearly or waxy spot, often circular or oval in shape. As they grow, they become a raised, flat spot with a 'rolled' edge and they may develop a crust. Next, they begin to bleed from the centre and an ulcer develops. This is called a rodent ulcer and, if left long enough, it can become quite large and eat away the skin and tissue below.
Squamous cell carcinomas are most common on the limbs, head and neck. They are pink and irregular in shape, usually with a hard, scaly or horny surface, although they can sometimes become an ulcer. The edges are sometimes raised. They can be tender to the touch.
For all types of skin cancer, over-exposure to ultraviolet light, from sunlight or sunbeds, is the main risk. Research into malignant melanoma suggests that over-exposure in childhood puts people at risk of getting melanomas later in life. There are several other things that increase the risk of skin cancer: having very fair skin that burns easily, having lots of moles (over 50) on your body, having had skin cancer before, your close relatives having skin cancer and being treated with anti-rejection drugs (ie after an organ transplant). Exposure to radiation or long-term exposure to chemicals such as coal tar, soot, pitch, asphalt, creosote, paraffin wax or arsenic, can increase your risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Yes, skin cancer can look like that. Go to your doctor right away, and don't scratch it off.
I couldn't honestly say.
But it's obviously worrying you, see your doctor. No matter what anybody says on this, if you're worried, it's worth it for like an hour out of your time.
Good luck and I hope for the best. :)
Can be.
GO TO:
http://cancer.about.com/od/skincancermel...
take a look here
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl...
Do not scratch it off! Go see your doctor! It may be nothing, but let your doctor decide that.
if you have any doubts, go to doctor right away!! skin cancer is a fast killer once you let it go!
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