Any Change in a Wart or Mole
Cancer can develop in almost any area of the skin, especially those parts that are often exposed. Skin cancer may appear as a dry, scaly patch; a pimple that persists; an inflamed area with a crusting center; or as a firm nodule.
Malignant melanoma, a relatively uncommon cancer of the skin, usually occurs as a dark brown or black, small, mole-like growth. Any mole that becomes larger, bleeds, or becomes an open sore should be considered suspicious
The signs of cancer, can be vague and similar to those of other conditions. Only breast and cervical cancers can be detected through screening. So recognizing these symptoms and talking about them with your gynecologist or primary care doctor can increase your odds of finding cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to log them in some way, so that you can have a thorough conversation with your doctor about how often symptoms occur and how long they’ve been happening.
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer. But if they last two weeks or longer, see your doctor to get yourself checked out.