What are the consequences of skin cancer?

SYMPTOMS:

Basal cell carcinoma: caused by long-term exposure to sunlight

• Shiny bump that is pearly or translucent
• Flat, flesh-colored lesion appearing anywhere on the body

Squamous cell carcinoma:

• Hard, red nodule on face, lips, ears, neck, hands, arms
• Flat lesion with scaly surface

Melanoma:

• Change in color, size, shape or texture of a mole
• Skin lesion with irregular borders
• Enlargement of an existing skin lesion
• Large brown spot with darker speckles
• Hard, dome-shaped bumps anywhere on your body

Characteristics:

• Fair skin
• Spend a lot of time outdoors in work or leisure activities
• History of sunburn
• Family history of skin cancer
• Many moles
• Are over age 40
• Large dark-colored birthmark known as congenital melanocytic nevus
• Pre-cancerous skin lesions, such as actinic keratosis
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) -- a risk for Kaposi's sarcoma specifically