Alert: Six unexpected body parts where skin cancer can appear

Symptoms

Experts warn of unusual places where spots and sores can appear, and are ignored due to misinformation

The type of cancer most frequently diagnosed in Brazil is skin cancer, which has low lethality as long as it is detected and treated early. But, despite what many think, the tumor can manifest itself in other places in the body besides the epidermis.

Experts warn of unusual places where spots and sores can appear, which are sometimes overlooked due to misinformation.

“Skin cancers have types and subtypes, of which the most common is basal cell carcinoma, which accounts for 80% of diagnosed cases, followed by squamous cell carcinoma. They, and others, can reach more neglected areas such as the intimate area and the scalp”, says dermatologist Fernanda Seabra, from Oncoclínicas, in Brasília.

The specialist warns of other places on the body where skin cancer can manifest:

1. In the anus

Squamous cell cancer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma, can affect regions of the skin even if they are not exposed to the sun, such as the anus. The disease may be related to infections due to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and appears as a chronic wound on the skin or mucous membranes.

2. Under the nail

“Another rare but lethal form of melanoma is acral tumors, which can appear under the nail, like a brown streak running from the cuticle to the other end of the nail. It is worth noting that the tumor can have darker or lighter shades and usually appears on the thumbs and big toes”, says Fernanda.

3. In the ear

Ear cancer usually appears as a swelling that can invade the inside of the ear. In some cases the tumor can cause ear pain. This type of cancer occurs due to sun exposure, even though the contact area of ​​the sun with the hearing aid is small.

4. Under the tongue

When consuming products with carcinogenic substances, such as alcohol and cigarettes, the mouth comes into contact with toxins that damage oral tissue and may increase the chance of developing cancer. In this version, skin cancer can manifest itself as a sore under the tongue or on the gums.

5. On the scalp

Skin cancer on the scalp is more common than you might think, but often goes unnoticed as it is covered by hair. Among balding people, scalp skin cancer is the most common type.

“It is worth remembering that bald men, or women with androgenetic alopecia, are patients with a greater chance of having scalp cancer. It manifests itself not only as swelling, but also as a wound,” says the dermatologist.

6. In the eyes

The eye is an area that is constantly exposed to the sun. So, it’s worth paying attention to swelling, wounds, redness and bleeding in the region. According to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), people who are exposed to the sun for a long time and frequently are the group with the highest risk of contracting skin cancer, especially those with light skin, hair and eyes.

*With information from Metrópoles

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