Are You Sick?

Skin cancer

Is this your symptom?

A lump or bump felt under the skin or on the skin
A new mole or change in appearance of a mole
Part of the skin has a growth or looks different than the skin around it

Causes and Types of Lumps

Insect Bites and Stings cause itchy and painful bumps. Swelling can range from small to large. You may be able to see the bite or sting mark in the middle of the bump.
Skin Abscess or Boil is a painful red pocket of pus, often around an infected hair root. Some large abscesses can be drained if the pain is severe.
Cysts feel like smooth, hard lumps under the skin. They are filled with fluid and are not painful unless they get infected. They are not cancerous. They can grow to be large.
Lipoma is a fatty lump. Often appear on the back, arms, shoulder or chest. They are not cancer. Small lipomas can be left alone. Larger ones can be removed with minor surgery.
Swollen Lymph Glands. Lymph glands can be found in many places on the body and are part of the immune system. If they are fighting an infection, they may swell and feel tender. The swelling may depend on where the infection is. Some viral infections may cause glands to swell all over the body. Call your doctor if glands are swollen for more than a few days or get larger. Swollen lymph glands can sometimes be caused by cancer.
Lumps on the Head or Face:
- Sty is a red, painful lump filled with pus on the edge of the eyelid.
- Chalazion is a clogged gland at the base of an eyelash.
- Salivary Gland swelling is caused by small stones blocking the channel that saliva (spit) flows through. A lump may form as the gland swells and then go down when the stone moves. Tumors can also occur in the glands and cause swelling and pain.
Breast Lumps. Most are not cancer. Always get a breast lump checked by your doctor. See the Breast Symptoms care guide.
Groin or Scrotum Lumps. These are most often lymph glands, but could be a hernia. See the Penis and Scrotum Symptoms care guide.
Rectal Lumps are most likely piles (hemorrhoids) or harmless skin tags. Painful lumps at the anus could be an abscess or blood clot that has formed in the hemorrhoid.
Hand or Foot Lumps are often a ganglion. This is a harmless, fluid-filled cyst which forms around the joints or tendons. They sometimes go away on their own or can burst.
Cancerous Lumps can form in any part of the body. These are often hard and odd shaped, but do not hurt.
Injuries. New lumps on any part of the body can be caused by an injury. A bruise is often seen with the swelling.

Causes of Skin Changes

Basal Cell Cancer looks like a pearly or waxy spots in sun-exposed part of the skin. It sometimes looks flat and brown. It may bleed and scab. The spots seem to go away, but then return. They grow slowly and often do not hurt. These rarely spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous Cell Cancer also occur on sun-exposed parts of the skin. They appear as flat, crusted or scaly spots. The spots may grow into a wart-like lump. They may bleed. Unlike basal cell cancer, these can hurt and slowly grow into other parts of the body. Seek care early if you think you have this type of lump.
Melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer. People of all ages can get it. Many cases are linked to sun exposure, but they can also be due to genetics. Melanoma can grow on any part of the skin. The spot may look odd-shaped and be more than one color. It is not easy to treat if it spreads to other body parts. Always tell your doctor about skin changes.

Other Skin Growths

Seborrheic Warts and Verrucas(foot warts) are harmless lumps, common in people 40 years and older. They are not viral warts and are also not cancerous. They can itch and be flaky. They can appear on any part of the body and have color. They can be removed by a doctor. Get these checked out by a doctor to make sure they are not a type of skin cancer.
Viral Warts are very common. You can find wart removal meds at a pharmacy or they can be removed by a doctor.

When to Call for Skin cancer

When to Call for Skin cancer
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Fever and there is redness spreading from the lump You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Redness spreading from the lump and no fever Looks like a boil (painful, red lump, not-itchy) Swelling is painful and cause is not known You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Change in appearance of a skin growth or mole Mole or other lump that starts to bleed New growth appears that is different than the skin around it Lump is larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) and cause is not known Small lump that lasts more than 7 days and cause is not known You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Small lump has lasted less than 7 days and cause is not known. May be an insect bite.

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Fever and there is redness spreading from the lump
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Redness spreading from the lump and no fever
Looks like a boil (painful, red lump, not-itchy)
Swelling is painful and cause is not known
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Change in appearance of a skin growth or mole
Mole or other lump that starts to bleed
New growth appears that is different than the skin around it
Lump is larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) and cause is not known
Small lump that lasts more than 7 days and cause is not known
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Small lump has lasted less than 7 days and cause is not known. May be an insect bite.

Care Advice

For a Small Lump or Swelling

What You Should Know:

Many times, new swellings are due to insect bites. You may not know you were bitten.
While most insect bites cause a small red bump, some are larger (like a hive).
Suspect an insect bite if there are other bites (small red bumps) on other parts of the body.
Here is some care advice that should help.

Cold Pack for Swelling:

Apply a cold pack or cold wet washcloth for 20 minutes.

Warm Pack for Pain:

Apply a warm wet washcloth to the swelling to help ease the pain.

Pain Medicine:

To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
Use needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Steroid Cream for Itching:

If the swelling is itchy, use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid). No prescription is needed.
Do this 3 times per day.

Allergy Medicine for Itching or Swelling:

For severe itching or swelling, take an allergy med by mouth.
Benadryl is best. Repeat every 6 hours as needed. No prescription is needed.
If you only have another allergy medicine at home (not Benadryl), use that. Follow the package directions.

What to Expect:

Most insect bites itch or hurt for 1 or 2 days.
The swelling usually peaks in 2 days, but may last a week.
If the swelling gets larger or doesn't go away, it needs to be seen.
Lymph nodes may be tender at first, but the pain should be less within a few days. If it stays painful, get checked by your doctor.

Call Your Doctor If:

Swelling becomes very painful or is hard
Fever occurs
Swelling gets larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Swelling lasts more than 7 days
You have recently lost weight without trying to diet
You think you need to be seen
Your symptoms get worse

Treatment for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer.
Melanoma is the type of skin cancer that develops from the cells that produce pigment in the skin or in moles. It is serious and has a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body.
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are much more common that melanomas. They are less likely to spread to other parts of the body, but may do so if not treated.
Less common forms of skin cancer can also occur.

Skin Cancer Risk Factors:

Sun exposure is a key risk factor in all types of skin cancer. Other risk factors are:

fair skin
history of blistered sunburn
had skin cancer before
family history of skin cancer
weak immune system. Examples are: sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, diabetes, kidney problems.
live in a sunny climate
have been exposed to radiation or substances such as arsenic

Check for Early Signs of Skin Cancer:

Get to know your own skin. Pay attention to the sun-exposed areas and any moles you may have. This will help you notice if there has been any change to the skin or mole.
Look for change in size or shape or color of existing moles, a mole that bleeds, or if you see a new dark area of skin.
If you notice a new growth or new change to your skin, ask your doctor to check it.

Preventing Skin Cancer:

Sunlight is good for you and boosts your Vitamin D, but limit the time you spend in the sun to avoid getting burned.
Avoid tanning beds which emit UV light.
Stay in the shade or stay indoors when the sun is at its strongest (between 10am and 3pm).
Cover up with clothing to protect your skin and use a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face.
Wear sunscreen of at least SPF 15 (or SPF 30 for children and fair skinned people). Be sure it also has a high ultraviolet A (UVA) protection factor.
Don't forget to protect your lips, nose, ears and neck.
Remember to re-apply it after swimming or sweating a lot.
You can still get burned even when the sky is hazy (cloudy).
Don't let yourself fall asleep in the sun.

Call Your Doctor If:

Any change in a mole or growth
A mole that looks different
You think you need to be seen
Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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