Skin Cancer Concerns


Cancer can occur when normal cells undergo a transformation during which they grow abnormally and multiply without normal controls.  As the cells multiply, they form a mass called a tumor. Tumors of the skin are often called skin lesions, and can be cancerous only if they are composed of malignant cells. This means that they encroach on and invade neighboring tissues because of their uncontrolled growth. It is vitally important that you pay attention to tumors, because their cells can travel to remote organs via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.  This process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis. These tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space and taking the oxygen and nutrients the normal cells need to survive and function.

Skin cancers are of three major types: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Melanoma.

  • The vast majority of skin cancers are BCCs or SCCs, and while malignant, these are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body, but they may be locally disfiguring if not treated early.
  • A small but significant number of skin cancers are malignant melanomas. Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that tends to metastasize relatively early and aggressively and can spreading to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not found and treated early.


  • Actinic keratosis is a patch of red or brown, scaly, rough skin, which can develop into any kind of skin cancer, but most commonly precede the appearance of a squamous cell carcinoma.

Moles (nevi) are simply growths on the skin.

  • Most people have 10-40 moles on their body.
  • The surface is usually smooth.
  • An individual's moles usually look pretty much alike. A mole that looks different from the others should be examined by Dr. Lowe.

Dysplastic nevi are not cancer, but they can become cancer.

  • People with many dysplastic nevi are more likely to develop melanoma.
