Is Skin Cancer Painful to Touch?

Skin cancer is often painless to the touch, especially when small. However, it can sometimes be painful. You can expect itchiness at some point. Unless pain is present, the first symptom of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin.

Although skin cancer causes no pain, when it reaches an advanced stage or becomes quite large one can expect symptoms that might be itchy or painful. For example, when melanoma skin cancer develops, existing moles can change in texture or may cause itchiness or bleeding.

Here are some of the most common symptoms including fatigue, unexplained weight loss and lumps of metastatic skin cancer.

Metastatic Skin Cancer And Symptoms

Metastatic skin cancer is also known as metastatic melanoma. It can cause several symptoms depending on the part of the body where it has spread. Some of the common signs or symptoms include:

Lumps or Swelling

One of the most common areas where melanoma spreads first is the lymph nodes. These can become swollen or hard and you might notice these lumps are present under the skin in areas like the neck or armpit. These lumps can be painless or sometimes tender or painful.

Depending on the area in the body where the melanoma has spread such as the liver, lungs or even the skin, the signs can differ such as it can cause lumps or masses to form in organs or tissues.

Unexplained Pain

When melanoma spreads to the bones, deep aching pain can be felt especially in areas like the back, ribs or limbs. This pain can often worsen at night time. If the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs or brain it can cause discomfort or pain in the affected area. For example, abdominal pain or bloating may indicate liver metastasis, while chest pain or discomfort could signal the involvement of the lungs.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom of the cancer. In this one cannot get relieved even after taking rest or proper sleep. The weakness and tiredness remain all day long. It can be a combination of the body’s immune system fighting against cancer and the side effects of skin cancer treatment like chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Weight loss is common in cancers and can happen because your body is using more energy to fight the cancer or because the disease is affecting your metabolism. Unexplained weight loss can also be experienced in metastatic melanoma. If the melanoma has spread to the liver, it might harm the body’s ability to digest nutrients properly, leading to weight loss.

It also needs to be noted that nausea or loss of appetite can be caused because of cancer and can make it difficult to maintain weight.

How Would You Know If The Skin Cancer Is The Reason Behind The Pain?

You might check if skin cancer is the reason behind pain, if you experience new or changing spots on your skin that also cause pain especially if they come with signs like bleeding, crusting, colour changes, irregular borders or rapid growth.

Suspect if the pain is localised to the area of the suspicious spot, particularly when the cancer is growing large or developing near a nerve. However, the exact way to know is to consult a skin specialist for diagnosis through a skin biopsy.

Key points to keep in mind about skin cancer and pain:

• Most skin cancers when they are at their early stage don’t cause any pain. So, the pain could indicate the severity of the tumour.
• If the pain is directly over the suspicious skin lesion it is more likely to be related to the tumour.
• Pain can be more noticeable if the cancer develops near a nerve so the nerve involvement is also the sign of skin cancer.

You might need expert attention as soon as possible if you notice pain involving the nerve, itchiness, bleeding or sore.

When To See A Healthcare Professional For Skin Cancer Treatment?

You should see a healthcare professional for skin cancer treatment if you notice new or changing spots. You must look for moles that are showing changes in colour, size or new growth. Some of the other symptoms that demand expert attention are:

• A sore that does not heal in a week or more.
• Having a family history of skin cancer.
• Having a history of excessive sun exposure.
• Mole that itches, bleeds or is hurting.
• New growth on the skin with an uneven border.

These are the most common symptoms or signs of skin cancer that might show that you need expert attention. They can customise a treatment plan for you and provide the best treatment options for skin cancer.