Skin Cancer Center

Question: Skin Cancer? I'm not sure exactly what it is, but if it is skin cancer, it's pretty important that I know. I already poked around the internet looking for pictures, but none that I found looked similar. It's a small (dime sized) discoloration (lighter than the rest of the skin) on my neck, and a sort of darker ring around it. In the center is a pinkish dot. At first I thought it was a bug bite...but it's been there for two months. Any ideas?

Answer: Do you live in an area with ticks? A pink dot with a ring around it is a sign of Lyme disease. Seriously check it out with a doctor if you may have been bitten by a deer tick. By the way, I've had numerous skin cancers and what you're describing sounds nothing like skin cancer.

Question: i have little white dots that show up with red dots in the center of each white dot and its not skin cancer.? i have had them sence i was born. i have had them sence i was born and will i know there not moles mumps or what ever but it only happens to my right arm.

Answer: well, if they aren't cancerous, then the doctor should of explained to you what they are...it could be mumps or moles. good luck.

Question: Could this be skin cancer? My boyfriend has a small red dot on his back that itches constantly. He's had it for about 4-6 months now. He has never had any sort of weird pains but when he scratches it, the itch raidates to surrounding areas. It has a small indentation in the center (a symptom of skin cancer that I read), but the spot looks NOTHING like photos I've seen of skin cancer. It's a lot less severe. Could this be the beginning of skin cancer?

Answer: Its better to be safe than sorry. Check it out. Tell him to go to the doctor...It may be nothing (which i pray it is) but you dont want him to risk his life just because you two thought it was nothing. PS he should be lucky to have someone like you who is concerned of his health. :D

Question: Cancer medicine - Gefitinib for skin cancer? Does anyone know if Gefitinib or ZD1839 is effective for treating skin cancer? My father was recently diagnose with undifferentiated perineural squamous cell carcinoma - it is a rare form of the more common squamous cell carcinoma and given a short time to live. We are trying ever possible angle. Any info on this drug or any cancer drug and centers who specialize in this form of cancer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answer: Gefitinib (Iressa) is in clinical trials to determine how effective it might be against recurrent squamous cell carcinoma. From my reading it appears they are trying this drug as a treatment to prolong life rather than as a curative agent. Here is the web page for this trial at MD Anderson. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00… Iressa was initially used as a treatment for squamous cell lung cancer and there was hope that the drug would also help people with recurrent squamous cell skin cancer. The results so far are very preliminary. The side effect profile appears to be tolerable. Remember not to get too caught up in statistics. If your father happens to be a responder then the drug works for him. Do not let the reported low response rates (when used for head and neck internal squamous cell cancers) discourage you too much. http://www.astrazeneca.ca/en/news/releas… For more info you should try and contact the Dr conducting the studies at MD Anderson. He might answer an email or call from you even if the clinical trials were closed. Since this is the last month of the clinical trials the final results should be apparent by now. http://www2.mdanderson.org/app/clinical/… all the best to you both

Question: Is it possible I have skin cancer? So I was shaving my legs and noticed what I thought was frekle. Well, after looking closely at it i noticed the edges were blurred and it was uneven and raised. I scratched it accidently and it started bleeding from the center. Could it be skin cancer? I found ANOTHER one on my arm. It was similar. I thought it was a freckle but it is now raised and half of it is light pink. On the tops of my shoulders I have little colorless patches (that are white), I thought maybe that was just sun damage...but could I have skin cancer? If so...what will happen if I do?

Answer: I'd recommend going to a dermatologist. However, it doesn't necessarily sound like you have anything to worry about. The telltale sign of most skin cancers is that something changes suddenly. You've had a "freckle" that suddenly gets bigger or darker or the bumpier. I've had skin cancer removed from my face...I thought it was a scar (pink, pearly looking) but it scabbed over one day and later I noticed it suddenly had a little vein running through it. You are looking for either brand new moles or one that suddenly changed. If you haven't been paying attention and don't know if it falls into one of those categories simply go to a doctor. I get a skin cancer screening every 6 months. Some spots I thought were scary, the doctor immediately diagnosed as being something harmless and she found other spots I hadn't even noticed that ended up being pre-cancerous.

Question: Have a big red lump on the back of my leg, could it be skin cancer? Cancer does run in my family. I have cancer insurance. I can't see it very well because its on the back of my thigh near my butt. Its as big as my pinky fingernail...red and puffy and the center of it is blackish. Could this be cancer? I want to know if this is something to worry about enough to go to my doctor. (I try to avoid the doctor because I'm broke all the time!) Oh, I forgot to mention my legs haven't seen the sun in about 10 years. I only wear shorts at night in my home. I think its just a blood blister. It started bleeding after i got out of the shower and I was able to drain it. Thanks though!

Answer: It is probably just a boil, that will eventually go away. But, being broke is not an excuse not to go to the doctor. Find a free clinic and go there. Better to find out now, then wait and have it be something else and it be too late to treat. If you can't find a free clinic, look on the internet for your area and find a doctor that will work with you either in payments, or who sees patients and charges on a sliding scale. If you have cancer insurance and you are paying for that, and you have other health insurance, then there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to go to the doctor to have it looked at. Better to be safe than sorry.

Question: is this possibly skin cancer? I have previously had a couple serious sunburns that have caused blisters, one time very large blisters. Recently, I have noticed an old mole near the area of the sunburns has a white mark near the center and has started to have some tenderness. I have talked to some people, none of them medical professionals, and they say the only reason it is tender is because I have been feeling it. Could these be symptoms of skin cancer?

Answer: when it is a different color as the skin around it, that can be a warning sign of cancer. doesn't have to be. but best to get it checked by a MD ASAP.

Question: DO I HAVE SKIN CANCER??? IM FREAKING OUT SOO BAD RIGHT NOW HELP MEEE!!!!? Ok. So about 2 weeks ago I developed this thing that LOOKS like a mole. When I first realized it (about 2 weeks ago)...it looked like dried-up blood because it was really red around the edges and dark in the center, and a lot of skin was peeled or peeling off around it. Now...its been 2 weeks. It's still there, but the redness is gone and some of the skin has grown back, but not all. It's about the size of a pinhead, and its not grown at all, its also brown like a normal mole, and not raised. Is this skin cancer? Its round, about the size of a pinhead, brown, not raised. I asked my mom and she said it was a blood blister... Also, i haven't been in the sun for a long time since it's winter. The only times im really outside is when i walk home from school...but that only takes about 10 minutes and my hands are usually tucked up into my sleeves. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME. IM REALLY STARTING TO FREAK OUT THAT I HAVE CANCER AND WILL DIE IN MY SLEEP. THANKS,.

Answer: Sounds like a blood blister, but you can't be too careful. If you are that worried, just go and see a doctor. They'll be able to tell you what it is, and what to do about it. STOP FREAKING OUT. You won't just die in your sleep suddenly if you're feeling fine.

Question: Possible skin cancer? Yesterday I noticed a dark spot on my back. It's dark brown in the center, with a light brown border. I'm going to make an appointment with my Doctor on Tuesday to get it checked. My dad had skin cancer. What are the chances that this could be cancer? I'm 20 years old and have pretty fair skin and lots of freckles. My back hasn't been exposed to the sun since last summer. Any thoughts as to what else this could be? It doesn't look like a normal freckle, and I should know since I have billions of them.

Answer: ?Skin mole or nevus. Most likely nothing but if you are worried get it excised.

Question: is it skin cancer..im super worried? i have a mole that is on my bicep, near my armpit and since god knows how long ago, probably few years, the mole started growing and has unclear borders and the center or it is black while the outer part is brownish-black...its not raised though, could this be skin cancer? since i noticed it 2 years ago, the mole is shorter than 1 cm and it hasnt growned anymore or changed shape or colours since...no history of skin cancer in my family pls help, im worried

Answer: The fact that you have stated it has an irregular border and unusual coloration on the inside, that concerns me. However, since it hasn't had a change in 2 years, it more than likely isn't. I would definitely get it checked out though, just in case.

Question: Are these considered skin Cancer Symptoms? I have this symptoms on me that keeps bothering me for about two years now. The skin on my left elbow begins to change characteristics just recently. Its evolving and Im really worried. The spread comes in from the center and goes in a roundlike manner. The first signs include an increased growth of hair in one pore (2 to three hair per follicle) then, the hair lengthens also. Secondly, the hair becomes easily plucked (no pain) and the color of the hair follicle becomes black so I assume its dead. Lastly, it becomes rough and it forms a flat elevation (i dunno how to describe it) on the area. I am really worried ryt now...because it started to spread. I have these since birth I guess ( a chicken looking skin) but it has not spread. Im broke ryt now and I dont know what to do? Do u know what type of skin cancer is this? I searched the net and it seems that my symptoms are not consistent with skin cancer...I am even think its an autoimmune disorder. Just give me an idea what is i

Answer: You might want to check out psoriasis on the web. Many people get it on their elbows.

Question: skin cancer? [with pics that are not gruesome]? okay well sadly i do go tanning. but not for long. i started about last year in april and i went once until may then i went twice in may and spent no other time in tanning salons until maybe october. i went maybe 2-3 times in october and stopped in november and no i went 3 times in december. i just went tanning today and i think im going to stop. ive noticed this red bump on my right calf. i am definitely hoping its not skin cancer but im really scared .. it looks like this: http://i39.tinypic.com/aw2rrd.jpg http://i44.tinypic.com/351cnci.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/315ibsj.jpg i know its not melanoma, but could it be other types? its kind of reddish around and white in the center. i haven't really looked at my legs before today and i noticed it, so i got scared. please help me figure this out. thanks.

Answer: that isn't cancer, that is an infection, likely an infected or ingrown hair follicle.

Question: Do you think I have skin cancer? I've had this really odd looking mole on the side of my hairline for about a half a year since I noticed it. I'm going for a regular checkup at the end of the month to my doctor so I will definitely get it checked out. The mole has and outer ring that is lighter than the center, and the mole is offish-red. The mole is slightly bigger than a pencil eraser, and is only a bit asymetrical. Do you think this could be skin cancer, if so, what kind do you think it might be? Any help is greatly appreciated, as I am kind of freaked about this!

Answer: I've had a lot of skin cancers. Generally, a skin cancer will grow darker in color or change colors & have ragged edges. Yeah, get your doctor to take a sample & send it away for testing. If it's benign, they'll just burn it off. If it's malignant, it'll have to be cut out.

Question: I am worried I may have skin cancer? Ok, I've always been a bit of a hypochondriac and I am always worrying about things, but anyway, First off, ever since birth I have had this biggish mole in the center of my back towards the top, my brother, dad and mam all have ones very similar in the same place, but anyway, I'm not sure about theirs but mine feels a bit crusty round the edges, and I'm not sure if it counts but a few years back I was on holiday in turkey, I was swimming in the pool and forgot to put more sun cream on as I was having fun, anyway on the last day I noticed my shoulder were a little sore and the same on the flight home, when we got home I went to sleep, woke up my shoulders were still sore, and I looked at them in the mirror and I had fairly large blisters on both shoulders, we dressed them and for around 2 weeks I soaked in the bath and did other things to make them get better and they did, and that was a few years ago, but anyway, something which may be unrelated, I have these little spot sized bumps on my arms which look like spots without heads on them, however they do sometimes develop little heads and I can't help but pick them, I thought they were just spots all part of puberty, (I'm 15) but my mam noticed them she's a district nurse and said they look more like a rash, now please help me I'm seriously worried, almost terrified that I have skin cancer!

Answer: I would trust your mom's advice, since she's a nurse. If you are really scared that you have skin cancer, talk with your doctor about your concern of skin cancer, S/he can send you for a diagnostic exam to officially see if your skin condition is skin cancer I think you should go on ahead to your doctor for a solution or ointment to treat your skin if it indeed a rash for some relief

Question: I have a friend who is suicidal over her Skin Cancer.? Well, two days ago my friend found out she was diagnosed with Skin Cancer (Non melanoma) and has been suicidal lately. It is so bad she was way too afraid to go to bed. So I walked over there and tucked her in myself. She is four-teen (my age) but I am No girl expert. I'm a guy for Gods sake. I feel like she is taking advantage over me, but she also has a high risk of death, her doctor (Yes, I was there too) said she has not noticed it for three months. Is there anything possible to do? I work with suicidal people almost every day too, and I got out of school almost a month ago. She is just crazy, and it is driving me crazy with my help at the mental center. I really need advice and fast. But also I don't want to lock her in the mental institute either O_O Her parents also know. We are looking for a solution. I basically work at the Mental Institute also. I work at a Mental Institute even though I am four-teen. I helped the counserlours with depressed students and recomended me as an aprentice to the manager of the Mental Institute of Minneasota. I help people of all ages see what they are missing. But that is not my life long dream. Her parents do know, but they really can't help. Not to brag but my parents and her parents have long jobs that eventually earns 1-2 Million a year. I am already finding the right doctor for her level. I have acess to the entire network of Mental Health Doctors.

Answer: make the last part of her life the best! always be there for her. answer mine please http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090604225934AAgQaWH

Question: how do you know if u got skin cancer!? my mom works at a training center in hillsville.And I was wondering could it spread,and how do you know u got it.

Answer: Sierra - With any suspicious skin lesion, it's best to see a dermatologist (MD) who will examine the lesion and possibly biopsy or excise the suspicious skin lesion. Most skin cancers are readily cured, more so than any other type of cancer. Most suspicious skin lesions are benign.