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3 common skin cancer signs that will help you ‘catch it early’, explained by dermatologist
One in five Americans are estimated to develop skin cancer in their lifetime and catching it early will improve your chances of successful treatment.
To diagnose it early, you need to be aware of the common signs and symptoms, and a dermatologist has shared the key ones to watch out for.
Dermatologist shares 3 skin cancer signs
“I’m a dermatologist that specializes in the treatment of skin cancer. You are going to want to see this video in order to remember what the key features of a bad skin lesion are so that you can catch skin cancer early,” Dr. Abigail Waldman said on TikTok.
She explained that the following three things can all be signs of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, so it’s important to get them checked out by a doctor or dermatologist.
1. A new or changing lesion
The first skin cancer symptom to look out for is a new or changing lesion that occurs over six to eight weeks. A lesion could be a mole or mark anywhere on the body that has newly appeared or an old one that has suddenly changed in size, shape or color.
2. A lesion that is growing rapidly
Specifically, you want to be aware of any marks on your skin that are growing rapidly. For example, if it used to be the size of a pencil tip and is now the size of a pencil eraser, that could be a sign of skin cancer.
3. A lesion that is bleeding
Finally, if a lesion on your body is bleeding, Waldman said that is “rarely a good sign”. Even if the mole or mark only bleeds once or twice, it’s really important to see a doctor as it could be an early skin cancer sign.
3 types of skin cancer to be aware of
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and the most regularly diagnosed types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer, MedlinePlus explains. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms.
Melanoma, another type, is less common but more dangerous. It only accounts for around 1% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths due to its tendency to spread to other areas of the body, the American Cancer Society reveals.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who spend a lot of time in the sun, have light-colored skin, hair and eyes, have a history of skin cancer in their family and are over the age of 50.
New lesions aren’t always a sign of skin cancer, but its best to see a doctor if you notice any suspicious markings or changes in the way your skin looks. If left untreated, some skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.
Dr. Abigail Waldman is a board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon who gained her medical degree from Yales School of Medicine. She works at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Jamaica Plain, MA and is also an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
