Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

What are the major things I should be checking?  You might notice a pimple or a small sore that hasn't healed or disappeared but instead is gradually growing bigger. Or you may have had a skin lesion for many years which has started to grow or become irritated. As noted before, any pale, waxy, pearly looking lump which eventually becomes an open sore or any red, scaly, sharply outlined patches should be seen by a doctor. Moles which change in appearance or size are especially important to watch. Go to the doctor at once if any red, white, or particularly blue specks appear in a long standing mole. Moles that are a uniform bluish black, bluish gray, or of uneven surface also should be looked at by a doctor. If the mole begins to bleed, becomes darker in color, or has other tiny dark spots appearing in the skin around it, it may have become a malignant melanoma a condition which will be discussed later in this chapter. You should remember that any sore, blister, patch, pimple, or...

Sebaceous Cysts These are solid collections of skin oil that form round, pea-sized lumps that can be wiggled about under the skin. They are especially common in the scalp and groin area, in the armpit and on the chest wall. They can occur singly or severally, even in clusters, and can become infected. Why do I keep on getting them?  Some people have the kind of skin whose oil gland ducts plug up. The fluid that can't get out changes in character and forms sebaceous cysts . How can I prevent new ones from appearing?  You can't. What should I do about it?  If it doesn't bother you, it can be left alone. It spoils my appearance. Can you take it out without leaving a scar?   The physician is often able to remove the cyst completely through a very small puncture incision. When the cyst is very large, a correspondingly longer incision may be required. What do you mean, it is injected and you can't remove it now?  When these cysts become infected, e...