When you spot a new or changing mole on your skin, it can bring up a lot of questions. Wondering how long it’s been there and how quickly it’s changed are often top of mind, along with wondering what it could be – like if it’s cancer.
Skin cancer spots and lesions grow at different rates, depending on the type of skin cancer. Early detection can give you access to more treatment options, especially as there are now non-surgical alternatives for certain types of skin cancer.
Understanding Skin Cancer Growth Timelines
There are two main categories of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma can develop and spread rapidly. Because it originates in the cells that produce skin pigment, it can spread to other organs as well.
Non-melanoma skin cancers develop in the outer layers of the skin. They occur most often because of ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure. Non-melanoma skin cancer includes the most common types of skin cancer, which are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and accounts for approximately 80% of cases. It typically grows quite slowly, taking months or even years before it’s noticeable. Typically, BCC appears as a pearly, translucent bump or pink growth. It can also be a recurring sore that bleeds, heals, and returns.
Squamous cell carcinoma is another form of non-melanoma skin cancer. It grows faster than BCC. In a few weeks or months, SCC can expand, thicken, or change in texture. It can spread if ignored and tends to be more aggressive than BCC lesions.
In addition, squamous cell carcinoma looks different from BCC. It typically presents as a rough, scaly patch, or a firm red nodule. It may also appear as an open sore with a raised border.
Other Critical Skin Cancer Facts
One in five Americans will have skin cancer by the age of 70. Because of its widespread nature, there are several facts that you should know about skin cancer to ensure you can detect it early and work with your dermatologist to get the right treatment plan for you.
Skin Cancer Isn’t Always a Mole
Paying attention to the moles on your skin and how they change in color, shape, and size is important. However, skin cancer can also show up in different ways. It can appear as a patch of dry skin, a shiny pink bump, or even a lesion that looks like a scar. Identifying and tracking any subtle changes to spots on the skin can be the best way to detect skin cancer early.
Skin Cancer Can Appear Anywhere
To prevent skin cancer, wearing sun-protective clothing with a UPF rating is important – just like wearing a wide-brimmed hat and broad-spectrum sunscreen. While exposure to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays is the primary culprit, skin cancer lesions can also develop on parts of the body that aren’t frequently exposed to the sun. This includes the soles of the feet, the palms of your hands, or even underneath your fingernails. Regular at-home skin checks can help to identify any new or unusual spots or moles in these areas.
Skin Cancer Impacts All Ages
Skin cancer risk does increase over time, as UV damage to cells is cumulative. However, skin cancer diagnoses for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer cases are on the rise among younger adults. Dermatologists often attributed this trend to the use of indoor tanning beds and exposure to more sunburns at a young age.
Young adults should take preventive measures to protect their skin from UV damage. This includes wearing sunscreen, covering the skin during peak sun times (typically between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), and seeking shade when outdoors.
Spotting the Changes: The ABCDEs and Annual Checks
Monthly at-home skin checks are a good way to identify any potential changes to the skin, moles, or other lesions. Remembering the acronym ABCDE can help track anything you notice:
- A- Asymmetry: An uneven shape where one half of the spot doesn’t match the other.
- B – Border: The edges – or borders – of the spot are uneven, irregular, or poorly defined.
- C – Color: The spot has varying shades rather than one uniform color.
- D – Diameter: The spot is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (although some lesions can sometimes be smaller).
- E – Evolving: There are noticeable changes to the spot in either growth or how it looks, especially when compared to other moles or spots on your skin.
If you identify any significant changes during your monthly at-home skin check, it’s important to bring it up with your dermatologist right away. In addition to your regular home skin checks, scheduling an annual skin exam with your dermatologist is recommended – whether you’ve tracked any active changes in your skin.
The Evolution of Treatment Options for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
If you are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer, it’s important to know that there are several treatment options. Traditional approaches, like Mohs surgery, have long served as the standard treatment option for non-melanoma skin cancers. However, surgical removal isn’t the only path for non-melanoma skin cancer treatment.
Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT) from Sensus Healthcare offers patients a clinically proven, non-surgical alternative to treat basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. By delivering low-energy X-ray beams targeted precisely to the skin lesion, SRT destroys the cancerous cells without the need for a scalpel or surgery. Because the treatment focuses entirely on the surface layers of the skin, the surrounding healthy tissue isn’t damaged.
SRT offers a sound alternative for patients who may not be ideal candidates for traditional surgery due to underlying medical conditions, medications like blood thinners, or advanced age. In addition, for those who wish to avoid the anxiety of surgery, stitches, and potential scarring on highly visible areas like the face or the nose, SRT offers a non-surgical treatment pathway with a 98.9% cure rate.
Protect Your Skin, Expand Your Options
While you may have questions about how fast skin cancer grows, knowing what to look for serves as the first step for protecting your skin. Monthly at-home skin checks are a good first step in detecting any changes to your skin. Combining these home checks with an annual appointment allows your dermatologist to professionally assess any changes you’ve identified as well.
If you are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer, remember that your treatment plan doesn’t have to mean surgery. Ask your healthcare provider if a non-invasive, highly effective treatment option like SRT from Sensus Healthcare is the right path for your lifestyle and your recovery.
Ready to schedule your annual skin check with a dermatologist? Check out the Sensus Location Finder to find a dermatologist near you that offers SRT as a treatment option.
