Skin Cancer
There are a number of features of a skin blemish which increase the suspicion of pre-malignant or malignant change. The more of these suspicious features a particular lesion has, the more important it is that you take medical advice. Your GP would be the usual first port of call. It is particularly important to consult early if the problem area is around the eye or on the ear, since these areas are more likely to need flaps and grafts to ensure that after an adequate clearance, the cosmetic result is good.
The following features give cause for concern:
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Trauma
- Colour change
- Halo
- Enlarging
- Satellites
BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (BCC)
- More common and less serious than Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma
- Usually slower growing and don't usually spread to distant sites like the lungs or lymph nodes
- If large and neglected, however, can spread locally in the surrounding well beyond what is visible, and can require wide clearance
In the photos below, all these seemingly small blemish required an extensive excision and reconstruction to clear all the suspicious cells
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (SCC)
- More serious than BCC
- Can spread, both into the surrounding skin and to local lymph nodes
In the photos below, all these seemingly small blemish required an extensive excision and reconstruction to clear all the suspicious cells
MALIGNANT MELANOMA (MM)
- Most serious form of skin cancer
- Excellent results if caught early
- Total removal of the ear is not always necessary
In the photos below, all these seemingly small blemish required an extensive excision and reconstruction to clear all the suspicious cells