Detecting non-melanoma skin cancer

Basal cell carcinoma (basal cell cancer) typically looks like a shiny, see-through or waxy bump at first. There may be smaller bumps around the edge of it. You can sometimes see blood vessels beneath the uppermost layer.

If there is a sunken area in the center of it and the area is moist and sore, an ulcer or wound has developed. This is a sign that the tumor is growing. The wound typically doesn't heal – not even after a few weeks – or it keeps healing and then starts bleeding again.

Other forms of basal cell carcinoma are characterized by a clearly defined, shiny, reddish or pink scaly area of skin. But basal cell carcinoma can also be dark (strong pigmentation), or it might look like a pale scar. This makes it harder to identify it as cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma usually arises on areas of skin that have been exposed to a lot of sun, such as the face and neck. But it is also sometimes found on the torso or legs, or even on the soles of your feet, palms of your hands, chest, in your armpits or genital area.

It's not always easy to identify squamous cell carcinoma or tell it apart from basal cell carcinoma. It may look like a scaly, reddish or yellow-brown area of skin, or a crusty, scabby wound that bleeds from time to time. The affected area is usually quite sensitive and often has scaly parts as well.

Squamous cell carcinoma can develop inside a scar or chronic wound, but it arises in healthy skin too. It is often found on the edge of the ears or on the face, including the lips.