Is there such a thing as benign skin cancer? Although a tumor can be benign, the name cancer refers to the illness that occurs when a tumor becomes malignant. Although not all cancers will spread quickly, all malignant, cancerous tumors are capable of spreading to other parts of the body and other organs—and this means they have the potential to become deadly. This is just one way of saying that there is no such thing as benign skin cancer.
What is Benign Skin Cancer?
Although “benign skin cancer,” is technically a misnomer, it’s important to note that there are several kinds of benign skin tumors. So, what does a benign skin tumor look like? Here’s what you’ll want to look out for:
- Most moles
- Lipomas (soft, fat-based tumors)
- Stucco keratosis (waxy raised bumps that are usually tan, black, or brown)
- Warts (growths with rough surfaces caused by some forms of HPV)
- Hemangiomas (bright red birthmarks that show up during the first few weeks of life)
It’s important to know when to schedule a skin cancer screening. If you’re trying to decide whether or not a certain mole is benign, remember that you need to look out for asymmetry, border unevenness, multiple colors, large size, and pain or bleeding. Each of these can be a sign that you’re not dealing with a benign skin growth.
Are There Less-Aggressive Skin Cancer Types?
Although all skin cancers can become dangerous under the right circumstances, you might still wonder what the less-aggressive skin cancer types are. Unlike melanoma, basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer are relatively unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. Although these cancers should still be treated as soon as they are detected, they are more likely to lie dormant than an aggressive type of cancer like melanoma.
Detecting basal cell skin cancer or squamous cell skin cancer isn’t always easy on your own, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a dermatologist who can take a closer look.
Consider Image-Guided SRT for Common Skin Cancer
If you’ve received a common skin cancer diagnosis, talk to your doctor about Image-Guided Superficial Radiotherapy (Image-Guided SRT), a surgery-free alternative to traditional skin cancer treatments. Find out how it works today.
