Cancers, pre-cancers and benign skin diagnosis
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
6% of Australians will develop a melanoma by age 85 years.
Check the 'ABCDE' page of signs of a melanoma:
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variability/Change, Diameter, Evolving.
Nodular melanoma is a firm, raised and discoloured growth. It may look like a blood blister.
It often grows quickly over weeks or months.
In addition to the ABCDE of melanoma signs, there is 'EFG' for signs of nodular melanoma.
Elevated, Firm, Growing.
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BCCs are the most common skin cancer.
Usually slow growing.
Skin coloured, pink or brown.
May bleed or have an ulcer.
If you have one, then you are likely to develop others.
Requires surgical removal.
Slowest of the skin cancers to metastasize.
Commonly in younger adults.
May occur on the shins, back and shoulders.
Look like a slowly expanding scaly, irregular pink-red patch.
Treatment is usually with surgical removal or chemotherapy cream.
SCC is not as dangerous as melanoma, but it can spread to other parts of your body if not treated.
Scaly or crusted lumps. Grow over weeks/months. May have an ulcer. Often tender.
Higher risk of spread when on the ear, lip, central face, hands, feet or genitals. Or if the cancer is larger than 2cm.
Bowen's disease is a very early form of squamous cell carcinoma. It is considered a precancer.
It should be treated and monitored carefully for recurrence.
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A harmless warty lump that appears as a common sign of skin ageing. Some people have hundreds of them.
They may have multiple colours - skin colour, yellow, grey, light brown, black, or mixed colours.
Smooth, waxy or warty surface.
They can resemble a wart or a raisin squashed onto the
Another name is 'senile warts' or skin 'barnacles'.
A harmless flat patch of darkened skin. They may be round, oval or irregular in shape, with variable colours. They are also known as an “old age spot” or “senile freckle”.
They may sometimes look like a melanoma, but the diagnosis can usually be made with dermoscopy (skin microscopy).
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Dysplastic nevi, also known as atypical moles, are unusual-looking moles that have irregular features under the microscope. These atypical moles are at increased risk for transforming into melanoma.
The appearance of these moles can vary greatly. Seek a review if you notice changes.
You may be advised to have more regular skin checks if you have a lot of dysplastic naevi.
Solar keratosis is a precancerous scaly spot found on sun-damaged skin, also known as actinic keratosis. It may be considered an early form of ccutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (a keratinocyte cancer).
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Brown, regular shape and border, round or ovoid moles, generally from 2 to 6 mm in diameter.
May have hair growth.
A small bright red dome-shaped bump, 0.5 - 6 mm in diameter. Usually there are multiple present. Common locations are the chest and arms.
If scratched, they may bleed. They are a harmless benign tumour, containing an abnormal growth of blood vessels. They increase with age, occurring in nearly all adults over 30 years.
Also called cherry angioma.
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