{"id":921,"date":"2026-07-20T13:12:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T13:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joaopatrocinio.pt\/services\/skin-cancer-signs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T10:43:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T10:43:49","slug":"skin-cancer-signs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joaopatrocinio.pt\/en\/services\/skin-cancer-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin Cancer Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Skin Cancer Screening and Signs Assessment<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>

Skin cancer is the most common malignant tumour, but early diagnosis allows for high cure rates and less complex treatments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

What is it?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Skin cancer is the most common malignant tumour in humans.<\/p>\n

Although most cases have high cure rates when diagnosed early, delayed diagnosis can compromise the prognosis and require more complex treatments.<\/p>\n

The dermatological evaluation of signs and other skin lesions allows the identification of suspicious changes at an early stage, often before they are noticeable to the patient himself.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The most common types of skin cancer include:<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
Basal cell carcinoma<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>

It is the most common type, usually associated with accumulated sun exposure<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Squamous cell carcinoma<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>

With the potential for local invasion and, in some cases, dissemination<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Melanoma<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>

It is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, but also the one that benefits the most from early diagnosis<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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How to identify?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Certain changes in the signs or the appearance of new lesions should prompt dermatological evaluation.<\/p>\n

In the case of pigmented moles, the ABCDE rule remains a useful tool:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Asymmetry<\/h4><\/div><\/div>
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Irregular edges<\/h4><\/div><\/div>
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Heterogeneous color<\/h4><\/div><\/div>
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Increased diameter<\/h4><\/div><\/div>
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Recent evolution of the lesion<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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It is also important to be aware of:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Moles that change in size, shape or color | Lesions that bleed spontaneously | Wounds that do not heal | Persistent spots or crusts | Appearance of new lesions with different characteristics from the others<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

What are the risk factors?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

The development of skin cancer results from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors.
\nKey risk factors include:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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  • Accumulated sun exposure throughout life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    • Episodes of sunburn, especially during childhood and adolescence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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      • Fair skin and a tendency to sunburn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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        • Use of tanning devices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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          • High number of signals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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            • Personal or family history of skin cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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              • Immunosuppression<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>
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