Skin Cancers of the Feet

Lesions on Your Feet May Be Cancerous

Many people associate skin cancer with sun or other UV light exposure. However, even though your feet and ankles don’t typically get a lot of sun, they are still subject to developing cancerous lesions. And since people aren’t typically looking out for cancer on their feet, a tumor can develop and spread, often with deadly results. It’s always a good idea to have any skin growths on your feet checked by your podiatrist since cancer can mimic benign growths like warts and moles.

Below are forms of cancer that can occur on your feet and ankle:

• Malignant melanoma: This is one of the most deadly and aggressive cancers. Since the tumors grow inwards and can look like other skin conditions, the cancerous cells can quickly catch a ride in your circulatory system and spread to other parts of the body. Don’t take chances and be sure to have a proper evaluation done by your podiatrist.

• Basal cell cancer: This type of cancer is less aggressive than melanoma and grows very slowly. It will not usually spread beyond the skin, so there’s more time to catch and treat basal cell carcinoma before it becomes a major problem.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: The itchy bumps caused by this type of cancer can look very much like warts in some instances, and in other cases it can resemble a fungal infection. Be sure to see your foot doctor for proper identification. Squamous cell tumors also grow very slowly, but they can become dangerous if they are not eventually noticed and removed.

For proper identification of skin lesions and to catch cancer before it spreads, be sure to see your foot doctor. Contact Maple Springs Foot Center located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Dr. Stuart Snyder, Dr. Sara Sharma, and Dr. Sahar Zadeh can help you manage all of your foot and ankle conditions. Call (301) 762-3338 or book an online appointment.