Signs that could be melanoma on your foot (2024)

FAQs

Signs that could be melanoma on your foot? ›

Foot melanoma may start in a new or existing mole. It may appear as a spot that's not symmetrical, has different skin tones or shades, doesn't have well-defined borders, may be larger than 6 millimeters, and changes over time. It may also bleed, itch, and hurt.

Foot melanoma may start in a new or existing mole. It may appear as a spot that's not symmetrical, has different skin tones or shades, doesn't have well-defined borders, may be larger than 6 millimeters, and changes over time. It may also bleed, itch, and hurt.

Early-Stage Skin Cancer on Foot

Patients who are experiencing sores or wounds that crack or bleed and refuse to heal may have early stage skin cancer on their foot, and should schedule a visit with a podiatrist or dermatologist as soon as possible.

Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.

The most common type of foot cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer may first appear as a small rough patch or bump on the foot. It can also appear as an open sore. It does not typically cause pain, but can crack, bleed, or become itchy.

With stage I melanoma, the tumor's thickness is 1mm or less. This tumor may or may not have ulcerated, and it isn't yet believed to have spread beyond the original site.

The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 74.3% and 63.3% for patients with foot lesions and 85.2% and 77.2% for patients with leg lesions, respectively (P = . 007). An unmatched analysis using all 1293 patients with leg lesions yielded, as expected, an even greater survival difference between the 2 groups.

The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours. Fifty per cent of these melanomas occur in preexisting moles.

Synovial sarcoma tends to appear as a painless swelling . An extremely rare soft tissue sarcoma called clear cell carcinoma occurs in the foot or ankle about 40% of the time. It usually appears as a small, slow-growing mass. About half of people with it have pain or tenderness.

“You could have melanoma for a long time before you realize it, because some types are not so obvious. Some aggressive forms, like nodular melanoma, grow fast, are visible and can hurt or bleed.” While certain groups may be at a higher risk for melanoma, anyone can get the disease.

Can foot melanoma be cured? ›

Foot melanoma is often treatable in the early stages. However, people will usually receive a diagnosis during the later stages, as the symptoms may not be easily noticeable. If foot melanoma spreads, or metastasizes, it can be life threatening.

Blood tests. Blood tests aren't used to diagnose melanoma, but some tests may be done before or during treatment, especially for more advanced melanomas. Doctors often test a person's blood for levels of a substance called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) before treatment.

Look for the signs of melanoma

Pinkish-red spot or growth. New spot or growth where you injured your foot. Rapidly growing mass on your foot, especially where you once injured your foot. Non-healing sore on your foot (or a sore that heals and returns)

Skin cancers in the lower extremity may have a very different appearance from those arising on the rest of the body. For this reason, a podiatrist's knowledge and clinical training is of extreme importance for patients for the early detection of both benign and malignant skin tumors.

Biopsy. The most definitive way of diagnosing bone cancer is to take a sample of affected bone and send it to a laboratory for testing. This is known as a biopsy. A biopsy can determine exactly what type of bone cancer you have and what grade it is.

The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs. The first melanoma signs and symptoms often are: A change in an existing mole.

The most common symptom of subungual melanoma is a discolored line that appears on your nail. It's usually brown or black and runs from top to bottom (vertical). In some cases, the line can be irregularly shaped and increase in length and width over time.

Spot that looks like a new mole, freckle, or age spot, but it looks different from the others on your skin. Spot that has a jagged border, more than one color, and is growing. Dome-shaped growth that feels firm and may look like a sore, which may bleed. Dark-brown or black vertical line beneath a fingernail or toenail.