Diagnosis
The diagnosis initially consists of a detailed clarification of risk factors such as frequent exposure to sunlight, previous illnesses, tumors in the family. This is followed by a physical examination, in which not only suspicious skin changes but also the rest of the body is examined, especially in poorly visible areas such as gluteal folds, genitals, mouth and scalp. A doctor may use a dermatoscope for a better assessment.
This allows the examination of deeper skin layers. In high-risk patients, it may be useful to photograph suspicious skin changes in order to observe them over a certain period of time. In general, the following clues are considered warning signs for malignant skin changes: These topics may also be of interest to you:
- Poor movability
- Thick consistency
- Rapid growth
- Size over 3 cm
- Occurrence in infancy
- Skin cancer – Early detection and treatment
- Skin Cancer Prevention
Prognosis
The prognosis of white skin cancer is very good if the basal cell carcinoma or spinalioma is detected and removed at an early stage. In such cases, however, the skin should still be checked regularly to detect further skin tumors at an early stage. In advanced stages and especially in large spinaliomas, a search for metastases is required and chemotherapy may be necessary.
Malignant melanomas are considered cured if they are removed while they are only located in the epidermis. Due to good early detection, the 5-year survival rate is about 80%. The later the tumor is discovered and removed and the deeper it penetrates, the worse the prognosis. Similar topics: Prognosis for basal cell carcinoma
