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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
Find out how we produce our information|
Both basal cell and squamous cell cancers can appear in a variety of forms. They are usually painless and grow slowly. They can appear anywhere on your body but are most likely to occur on exposed skin, especially on your face or neck.
Basal cell cancers may:
If you notice anything unusual on your skin that doesn’t go away within a month, show it to your doctor. It might be helpful to take a photograph of anything unusual so you can monitor any changes over time.
It’s important to remember that there are many other conditions that may appear in the skin that are not cancer, especially in older people. You may still want to have these treated for cosmetic reasons.
|BootsWebMD is working with Macmillan to provide access to even more high-quality information to people affected by cancer. See images of pre-cancerous skin lesions in a skin cancer slideshow on BootsWebMD.com|.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.