﻿ Skin Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer? - MedicineNet

Skin Cancer Overview (cont.)

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What causes skin cancer?

The exact cause of skin cancer is not known. It appears that basal cell cancers arise from basaloid cells in the upper layer of the skin. Uncontrolled growth of these cells is regulated by other factors in the skin. When that regulation is lost, skin cancer cells begin to grow into tumors.


What are the different types of skin cancer?

There are several different types of skin cancers:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 20% of all skin cancers but is more common in immunosuppressed people. In most instances, its biologic behavior is much like basal cell carcinoma, with minimal chance of spread. However, some of these tumors can act in an aggressive fashion and can even metastasize and cause death.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

Most basal cell carcinomas have few if any symptoms. Squamous cell carcinomas may be painful. Both types of skin cancer may appear as a sore that will not heal. There is often a slowly growing bump on the skin that may bleed after minor trauma. Basal cell carcinomas may have a pearly color while squamous cell carcinomas may have a thick scale on the surface. Both may have raised edges and a central ulceration.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 12/12/2014

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