This is the most common form of skin cancer, and commonly starts as a slow painless shiny lump over the face. It may bleed or subsequently turn in a painless ulcer. BCCs are rarely life threatening. If diagnosed early, excision of the tumour ( removal of the entire skin lesion) is curative. Rarely do BCCs invade deeply or spread to the local lymph nodes.
SCCs are usually first noticed by patients as a firm irregular fleshy scaly growth, which tends to occurs on areas of the skin normally exposed to sunlight. They often are painful. Left untreated, SCCs have the potential to spread to the regional lymph nodes.
Malignant Melanoma is a potentially serious type of skin cancer of the pigment cells of the skin. They can arise on any part of the body, including the eyes, nails, palms and soles. It may first appear as an unusual looking mole or freckle, and may have a variety of colors including tan, dark brown, blue, black and red. Melanoma can arise from normal looking skin, or from within a mole or freckle , which then increases in size and change its appearance.
Melanomas have the potential to spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body and thus should best be treated early. If the tumour has spread to involve the lymph nodes or other organs, your dermatologist may need to co-manage your care with an oncology specialist.