What is skin cancer

Skin cancer is the impact and damage caused by malignant tumors of the skin, which must be taken seriously, because the common ones may cause squamous cell carcinoma, or somatic cell carcinoma, as well as malignant melanoma, which are all types of skin cancer.

1. Skin cancer is a malignant tumor of the skin, which has different names depending on the source of the tumor cells, including epidermis, skin appendages, skin soft tissue, peripheral nerves, melanocytes, skin lymphoreticular tissue and hematopoietic tissue. Another part is metastatic tumors that occur from other tissues and metastasize to the skin.

2. Clinical manifestations

Skin malignancies are characterized by relatively easy bleeding, the most common of which are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

1. Squamous cell carcinoma

It can be transformed from keratosis, leukoplakia and other precancerous diseases. It grows rapidly and forms ulcers at an early stage. Some are nodular, milky or cauliflower-shaped, with less deep invasion and a movable base; others are butterfly-shaped, with more obvious deep infiltration and great destructiveness, often involving bones. Squamous cell carcinoma complicated by infection will have thick pus, accompanied by foul odor and pain. Squamous cell carcinoma is more malignant and more likely to metastasize, often with regional lymph node metastasis.

2. Basal cell carcinoma

There are often no symptoms at the onset. In the early stage, most of them are plaque-like papules with a hard base. Some are wart-like protrusions, and then break down into ulcers. They are irregular, with raised edges and uneven bottoms. They grow slowly and usually occur alone. They are prone to occur on the cheeks, bridge of nose and sides of nose. The tumor is painless and itchy, and there is often no subjective discomfort. Although basal cell carcinoma is malignant, it rarely metastasizes. First, translucent nodules with raised edges appear as shallow ulcers, which then gradually expand and can invade surrounding tissues and organs, becoming invasive ulcers. According to its morphology and pathological changes, basal cell carcinoma can be divided into 4 types, namely nodular ulcerative type, pigmented type, hard scar or fibrotic type and superficial type.

3. Malignant melanoma

It is a highly malignant skin cancer that metastasizes quickly. Chinese people have more pigments in their skin, which provides better protection against ultraviolet rays. At the same time, people pay more attention to sun protection, so malignant melanoma is relatively rare in China. Since melanoma is black in color, it is easier to spot. Therefore, if you find black spots on your fingernails, nail beds, soles of your feet, palms, or other parts of your body, and they have obviously enlarged in the near future and are prone to rupture, or if half of your nail turns black, you should go to the hospital for a check-up in time.

4. Eczematoid carcinoma

It often occurs on one side of a woman's breast. The symptoms are similar to those of eczema, with red or dark red skin changes and easy exudation or bleeding on the surface. When it first occurs, it is mostly on one side of the areola, and then slowly develops. Some nipples may have discharge. Easily misdiagnosed as eczema. Middle-aged women with unilateral breast eczema that has not been cured for a long time should go to the hospital for examination in time.