What does early-stage white skin cancer look like?

The most important step in the treatment of all types of skin cancer is to detect early stages and not to delay a visit to the doctor for too long in case of suspicious changes. Early stages hardly cause any symptoms and therefore cannot be recognized by pain or itching. In the early stages of white skin cancer, whitish-yellowish or reddish spots are noticeable on sun-exposed parts of the body, for example the face, décolleté or the back of the hands.

These are located on the surface of the skin, which is why noticeable superficial changes occur early on. Thus, the spots can be raised, rough and coarse in appearance and grow steadily. The earlier a cancer is detected at this stage, the better the prognosis and the smaller the area of skin that needs to be treated and removed.

What does terminal white skin cancer look like?

The terminal stage of white skin cancer can be fatal. The cancer is an underestimated danger, because even if discovered later and inadequately treated, it can cause damage locally to the skin and throughout the body through metastases. If left untreated, this finding on the skin can cause severe aesthetic but also functional damage to the underlying structures.

In the face, where white skin cancer often occurs, the cancer can disfigure and destroy the nose, lips, eyes and ears and even the facial bones. In the final stage, metastasis can affect and destroy all internal organs. Even if the prognosis is generally good, the therapy must not be neglected.

Diagnosis of white skin cancer

With skin tumors, self-diagnosis and personal attention are to some extent the first priority. For all forms of skin cancer, early detection improves the prognosis. Superficial changes can occur anywhere on the skin.

However, if a small lump appears, which changes and grows, this indicates a malignant change in the skin. If there is a justified suspicion, a dermatologist should be consulted as soon as possible. This doctor can examine the change in detail in the so-called dermoscopy.

Factors that are particularly important are contour, size, color irregularities and structural irregularities. A suspicious finding must then be examined in a tissue sample under the microscope. For persons over 35, there is the possibility of having a routine examination performed by a dermatologist every two years.