3 Cancers That Can Affect Your Feet
You don’t often think about the fact that your feet and ankles are susceptible to skin cancer because they don’t tend to get a lot of the sun exposure that is often associated with skin cancers.
Growths that appear on the feet are often non-cancerous, but since cancerous tumors can take on the appearance of moles, warts, and other skin anomalies, it’s important to have them checked by your foot doctor just to be sure.
3 types of cancer that affect the feet include:
Melanoma—This is a type of skin cancer that affects the melatonin in the skin. Malignant melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The tumors start on the surface but eventually grow inwards where they can reach blood vessels and lymph nodes and spread throughout the body.
Basal cell tumors—This type is a very slow growing cancer that may first appear wart-like with waxy pink or white bumps. They become rough and crusty-looking and may bleed but don’t usually cause pain.
Squamous cell tumors—The squamous cells make up the surface layers of the skin and tumors in these cells will protrude from the skin in a horn-like shape.
Catching signs of skin cancer early is the best way to avoid spreading. If you have any suspicious-looking lesions on your feet, we highly recommend that you consult our board-certified podiatrists Andrew Shapiro, DPM and Michael Barkin, DPM. With access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, we can assist you with your podiatric issues. Common issues include heel pain, ankle sprains, diabetic foot care, toe deformities, nail fungus, and skin problems. Our podiatry practice is conveniently located in Valley Stream in Long Island to accommodate all of your foot care needs. Contact Andrew Shapiro, DPM and Michael Barkin, DPM by calling (516) 825-3860 or book an appointment online today!