If Cancer Spreads to the Skin
When cancer has spread to the skin from other cancers it is called cutaneous (or skin) metastases. This means that cancerous tumors have spread to the skin from somewhere else in the body. Some of these cancer types or other areas of the body may include:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- GIST
- Kidney cancer
- Melanomas
Skin metastases can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, which depends on the body parts and organs affected. Some complications include:
metastasis to other parts of the body
ulceration and bleeding from large-sized nodules
treatment complications
Treatment for skin metastases involves treating the underlying cancer. These methods could include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. The prognosis of the condition depends on the severity of signs and symptoms, the number of organs systems affected, and the response to treatment. A multidisciplinary treatment team is very important.
A diagnosis of skin metastsses is extremely frightening. Gaining knowledge about your own disease status helps empower you and your family members as you approach treatment. You are your own best advocate!