White skin cancer

Illustrations: White skin cancer: Above: basal cell carcinoma under the ear and below: spinalioma on the ear.

White skin cancer, also known as light skin cancer, is not white. It includes basal cell carcinoma and spinalioma (= squamous cell carcinoma). The forms and colors can be varied. The term ‘white skin cancer’ is intended as a contrast to the so-called ‘black skin cancer’, malignant melanoma. Although this sounds like black and white painting, it makes sense in terms of malignancy.

Black skin cancer is extremely aggressive and can spread even if it is small. In contrast, white skin cancer is less aggressive. However, it should not be underestimated under any circumstances.

A white skin cancer can also be dark!

Apart from the fact that a white skin cancer is not white (as you can see from the illustrations), it can even be dark. A rare form of basal cell carcinoma is pigmented basal cell carcinoma. This is dark brown, like a mole.

Overall, the term ‘white skin cancer’ should therefore only be used with caution. It is more accurate to use the respective terms basal cell carcinoma and spinalioma.

Is basal cell carcinoma a white skin cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma is a white skin cancer that is often referred to as semi-malignant. This is because it does not normally spread, but continues to grow in its location, destroying the tissue (fatty tissue, cartilage, bone, etc.) and increasing in size.

Further information on treatment, including surgery, can be found under basal cell carcinoma / basal cell carcinoma.

How should spinalioma be classified?

Spinalioma is also a so-called white skin cancer. It is generally considered malignant as it can spread. However, small spinaliomas hardly spread and are treated surgically like basal cell carcinoma.

Further information on treatment, including surgery, can be found under spinalioma / squamous cell carcinoma.