10 Common Cancers and Their Warning Signs

Non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, is the most common form of cancer. It affects more than a million Americans each year.Exactly how many new cases there are each year isn’t clear because doctors can often treat it in their office and don’t have to report cases to cancer registries.

Signs of basal cell carcinoma include:

• Sores that don’t heal, or heal and then reappear.
• Raised, scaly red patches.
• Small, shiny, smooth lumps that are pink, red, or white.
• Pale, flat areas of skin that look like scars.
• Sores or growths that bleed, itch, or have small blood vessels on their surface.
• Pink growths with raised edges or indents.

Basal cell carcinoma is most likely to grow on your head, face, neck, and torso.

• Signs of squamous cell carcinoma include:
• Scaly, red patches with uneven borders.
• Wart-like growths.
• Sores that bleed easily, won’t heal, or that form a crust that doesn’t go away.
• Growths that are itchy, irritated, or painful.
• Squamous cell carcinoma usually forms on areas of your body that have been repeatedly exposed to sunlight, like your face.