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Melanoma skin cancer symptoms

If you’re wondering if you have or don't have skin cancer it would be useful to check against the following lists for symptoms you have and are lacking. If you have any of the following you may want to see a doctor for a physical examination. If the physical examination proves to find at risk areas than the doctor will most likely recommend a skin biopsy.

It is a good idea to take photographs of your bumps, warts and moles that you suspect are cancerous. Taking photographs will allow the doctors to see if any changes have occurred in your lumps. Taking photographs also lets the doctor have a brief glance at them to see if your fears are founded or not. Sometimes your bumps could be just that. Bumps. Other times unfortunately your fears could be reality. Some of the Symptoms that you may have Melanoma:

• Asymmetry - One half of the mole does not match the appearance of the other half of the mole.
• Border irregularity - The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
• Color - The color (pigmentation) is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to a mottled appearance.
• Diameter - The size of the mole is greater than 6 mm. (about the size of a pencil eraser). Any growth of a mole should be evaluated.
• Elevation - A previously flat mole has now be raised or thickened at the base.
• Surface - such as scaling, crusting, bleeding, erosion or oozing.
• Surrounding skin - such as swelling, redness, or small new patches of color around the sore.
• Sensation - such as itching, tingling, or burning.
• Consistency - such as softening or small pieces that break off easily

Signs of other type of skin cancers

• A firm, transparent bump laced with tiny blood vessels in thin red lines 
• A reddish irritated patch of skin.
• A new, smooth skin bump with a raised border and indented center.
• A smooth, shiny, or pearly bump that may look like a mole or cyst.
• A shiny area of tight skin, especially on the face, that looks like a scar and has hard to determine edges.
• An open sore that oozes, bleeds, or crusts and has not healed in 3 weeks.
• A persistent red bump on sun-exposed skin.
• A sore that does not heal.
•  An area of thickened skin on the lower lip, this can be caused by smoking or the use of chewing tobacco or your lips are regularly exposed to the sun and wind.

If you have both the chances of you having Melanoma is small. Only about four to five percent of skin cancers are Melanoma.

How to check Yourself
Checking yourself for cancer should be done once a month. You need a full sized mirror to stand in front of and look at yourself. It is recommended by doctors that you do the following:

Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, the back of your upper arms, and your palms. Look at your feet, the soles of your feet, and the spaces between your toes.
Using a hand mirror, look at:

• The back of your legs.
• The back of your neck and scalp. Part your hair to look at your scalp.
• Your back, buttocks, and genital area.

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