Brandon Podiatrist tells you all you need to know about feet skin cancers: Jairo B. Cruz, DPM: Podiatrist

Brandon Podiatrist tells you all you need to know about feet skin cancers

Dr. Rajnish Manohar has treated thousands of patients at his practice, the Gentle Foot Care Clinic, which has offices in both Brandon Florida and Zephyrhills Florida. Some of the cases he sees could be the precursor to skin cancer, so he wants you to have all the information you need to properly address your foot conditions before they become serious. Take a look at these types of skin cancers of the feet and how you can recognize them and have them treated.

What Are Skin Cancers of the Feet?

Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the body, including in the lower extremities. Skin cancers of the feet have a number of features in common. The majority of which are painless, and often there is a history of reoccurring splitting, bleeding, or ulcer. Often, people discover their skin cancer after unrelated disorders near the affected area on the foot.

Causes of Skin Cancers of the Feet

Especially in places like Florida, the sun’s harmful rays are known to be primary cause of skin cancer; the condition is frequently found on parts of the body that receive the most sun direct exposure. Skin cancers of the feet, however, are more frequently related to viruses, exposure to chemicals, persistent swelling or irritability, or a genetic condition. Sadly, the skin of the feet is often neglected throughout regular medical examinations, and for this reason, it important that the feet are inspected regularly for abnormalities that might indicate evolving skin cancer.

Foot Skin Cancer Types and what to look for

Cancer is always serious, but here are a few of the most common cancers of the feet in the order of their seriousness:

Basal Cell Carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma often is seen on sun-exposed skin surface areas. With feet being considerably less exposed to the sun, it happens there less typically. This kind of skin cancer is one of the least aggressive cancers in the body. It will certainly cause local damage however only rarely spreads beyond the skin. Basal cell cancers may look like pearly white bumps or patches that might ooze or crust and resemble an open sore. On the skin of the lower legs and feet, basal cell cancers often appear like non-cancerous skin tumors or benign ulcers.
Squamous Cell Cancer: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most typical kind of cancer on the skin of the feet. Most kinds of early squamous cell carcinoma are confined to the skin and do not spread. However, when advanced, some can end up being more aggressive and spread throughout the body. This form of cancer typically starts as a small scaly bump or plaque, which might appear inflamed. Sometimes there is a history of reoccurring breaking or bleeding. Sometimes it starts as a hard projecting callus-like sore. Though squamous cell cancer is painless, it might be scratchy. Squamous cell cancer might appear like a plantar wart, a fungal infection, eczema, an ulcer, or other common skin conditions of the foot.
Malignant Melanoma: Deadly melanoma is one of the deadliest skin cancers known. Non-surgical treatments are hardly ever efficient, and lots of remain speculative. This kind of skin cancer must be discovered extremely early to ensure patient survival. Melanomas might happen on the skin of the feet and on occasion below a toenail. They are discovered both on the soles and on the top of the feet. As a melanoma grows and extends deeper into the skin, it becomes more major and may spread out through the body through the lymphatics and capillary.

Warning Signs of Foot Skin Cancers

If you observe a mole, bump, or patch on the skin that meets any of the following requirements, schedule a visit at the Gentle Foot Care Clinic immediately:

Asymmetry – If the sore is divided in half, the sides don’t match.
Borders – Borders look scalloped, unequal, or ragged.
Color – There might be more than one color. These colors might have an unequal distribution.
Diameter– The sore is broader than a pencil eraser (greater than 6 mm).

Treatment of Foot Skin Cancer

Dr. Manohar will certainly examine the possibility of skin cancer both through a clinical assessment and with using a skin biopsy. A skin biopsy is an easy treatment in which a little sample of the skin lesion is extracted and sent to a specialized lab where a skin pathologist will certainly examine the tissue with advanced instruments. If a sore is figured out to be cancerous, Dr. Manohar will recommend the best course of treatment for your condition.

If you think you might have a skin cancer on your feet and want to make a preemptive strike, call Dr. Rajnish Manohar at his Brandon office (813) 502-5904 or in Zephyrhills (813) 782-3233. Alternately, you can submit a request by clicking the button below to schedule an appointment.