What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer?

Signs and Symptoms of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Basal and squamous cell carcinomas appear as a change in an area of the skin. This change may be an unusual looking bump or a patch of skin that is red or scaly. The most common sites for these cancers to occur are on the head and neck area, but they may develop anywhere on the skin. The most common signs of these cancers are:

• A sore or lump that develops a scab and does not heal
• A flat red or brownish patch that is scaly and may begin to itch
• A shiny, pale, or waxy lump
  

Signs and Symptoms of Other Types of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers

• Sebaceous carcinoma usually appears as a small, raised, solid pimple or swelling that is yellowish and painless. The most common location is an upper eyelid, but other areas may be affected as well.
• Merkel cell carcinoma most often appears as a painless, hard, shiny, reddish bump on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. The bump may be less than one-quarter inch to more than 2 inches in diameter. The cancer cells themselves lie beneath the epidermis, within the hair follicles in the dermis. The most common areas where these bumps are found are the head and neck and the arms and legs.
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans produces a flesh-colored, firm, painless growth that is about one-half to 2 inches in diameter. The cancer usually grows steadily once it first appears, and multiple lesions may ensue. Most of these growths appear on the trunk, particularly the chest and shoulders. Less often, they may occur on the head, neck, and scalp.
• Cutaneous angiosarcoma causes firm, bluish or violet tumors that appear primarily on the scalp or upper forehead. They may appear as single growths or clusters and may bleed easily.

This content has been reviewed and approved by Myo Thant, MD.