Can skin cancer turn into other types of cancer?

March 1, 2009 | By the doc In Cancer |

mineofgod asked:


My mother just found out that she has skin cancer, which I know is the most harmless of all cancers, really. As they tried to take it out, it is much deeper into her than they thought. That’s all the information she was able to give me at this point, and I don’t know when I’ll hear from her again. Should I be worried?

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4 Comments so far

  1. kay_flood on March 4th, 2009

    melanoma is a form of skin cancer that is deadly, don’t know why you would think it is in any way harmless. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin is most readily treated and can be removed. But Melanoma, cannot be cured and IS fatal, it spreads beneath the skin and travels to organs like almost any other cancer, it simply does it quicker.
    So, should you worry? Does she have Melanoma, or basal cell carcinoma?

  2. amandarez73 on March 8th, 2009

    It depends on the type of skin cancer – melonoma can become metastatic and spread to other parts of the body, basal cell tends to be very large and quite disfiguring.

    Unless you know the type, that is about all the help I can give. Most skin cancers can be removed and treated. The big thing though about it is that it is very very preventable – one of the few that are.

    I wouldn’t call skin cancer the most harmless of all the cancers.

  3. CutThroat on March 8th, 2009

    Skin cancer is skin cancer no matter where it is in the body. If skin cancer shows up in the liver, then it is still skin cancer but it has metastasized. It is possible that the cancer has penetrated more layers of skin that first thought and she may have to have another procedure to get rid of it. I would find out more information from her, or even go to an appointment with her if possible. As long as the doctors say it is still treatable, there is no reason to worry!

    Best of luck to you and your mom.

    LIVESTRONG

  4. samantha_maries on March 9th, 2009

    Skin cancer can travel to other parts of the body, but it will always be called skin cancer. My aunt had colon cancer and even though it traveled to other parts of her body, like her lungs, it wasn’t called lung cancer. You always name it by where it originated.
    I am very sorry about you mother. I hope everything turns out ok.

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