A doctor has warned that a common type of cancer could cause symptoms in unusual parts of the body. The expert urged people to look for red flags of skin cancer that might appear in the eye or on the feet.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia warned his viewers that melanomas “can appear anywhere on your body”. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, which is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK.
Statistics from Cancer Research UK show that there are around 17,600 new cases of melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the UK every year. It is a type of cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes.
The charity explains that these are found in the skin, the layer of tissue lining some parts of your body (mucous membrane) and the eye.
In his video, Dr Kukadia, who is better known online as Dr Sooj, said: “Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body.
“The most common areas to find melanomas are on the back and legs, but some rarer types can develop inside the eye, the soles of your feet, the palms of your hands, or on the genitals. Check your skin for any unusual changes or new growths.”
Experts at the Mayo Clinic warned that eye melanomas might be difficult to spot. But signs and symptoms of eye melanoma can include:
- Flashes of light or what look like specks of dust in a person’s vision. These are sometimes called floaters
- A growing dark spot in the colored part of the eye, called the iris
- A change in the shape of the pupil. The pupil is the dark circle at the centre of the eye
- Poor vision or blurry vision in one eye
- Not being able to see when looking to the side. This is called loss of peripheral vision
The clinic website said: “Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you have any symptoms of eye melanoma. If you notice sudden changes in your vision, seek emergency medical care right away.”
If you have a melanoma on your foot or hand, it could be something called acral lentiginous melanoma. Cancer Research UK says: “Acral lentiginous melanoma is usually found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
“It can also grow under or around the nails. It’s much more common on the feet than on the hands.”
However, this is a rare type of melanoma. Only one to three out of every 100 people diagnosed with melanoma have acral lentiginous melanoma.
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Other ways to spot melanoma
The most common sign of a melanoma is a new or changing mole. Cancer Research UK recommends using the ABCDE rule to identify a potentially cancerous mole.
- A – asymmetrical. Melanomas are likely to have an uneven shape
- B – border. Melanomas are more likely to have irregular edges (border) that are blurry or jagged
- C – colour. Melanomas are often an uneven colour and contain more than one shade
- D – diameter. Most melanomas are more than 6mm wide
- E – evolving. Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour
You might also notice the mole is:
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Becoming crusty
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should speak to your GP.
