Cancer can cause the face to become flushed or swollen (Image: Getty)

Three cancer warning signs that can appear on the face

by · Daily Record

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Early detection of cancer is crucial to improve the chances of survival. But with more than 200 different types of the disease, each presenting various symptoms, it can be easy to misinterpret or overlook the more subtle signs of serious illness.

Three of these crucial indicators can appear in the face, but experts warn that these indicators are most commonly ignored by the public, reports the Mirror.

Individuals may notice "puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face" as a result of lung cancer, according to the Reynolds Cancer Support House.

This happens when tumours in the lungs block blood vessels in the chest, leading to restricted blood flow from the head and face. The swelling that occurs as blood builds up is a common sign of lung carcinoma, but can also indicate other types of cancer too.

A swollen face can indicate that tumours in the lungs are blocking blood vessels, causing a build-up of blood (Image: Getty Images)

Alternatively, redness in the face can reveal the presence of carcinoid tumours, a slow-growing form of cancer that can develop in several parts of the body - typically the digestive system or the lungs.

Although this cancer does not tend to present symptoms until it is at a more advanced stage, one of the most common signs of its presence is flushing in the face. In fact, Cancer Research UK reports that more than 80 percent of patients with carcinoid syndrome experience unpredictable waves of facial redness.

Carcinoid syndrome typically affects individuals with advanced carcinoid tumours. These tumours produce large amounts of hormones and proteins, which trigger a flushing reaction in the face when they are released into the bloodstream.

The face can also change in appearance thanks to a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. According to Mayo Clinic, this cancer primarily occurs on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, including the scalp, backs of the hands, ears, or lips.

Skin cancer symptoms that can appear anywhere on the body

(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Signs of the disease that can be visible on the face and other patches of skin include:

  • A firm bump on the skin, called a nodule. The nodule might be the same colour as the skin, or it might look different. It can look pink, red, black or brown, depending on skin colour.
  • A flat sore with a scaly crust.
  • A new sore or raised area on an old scar or sore.
  • A rough, scaly patch on the lip that may become an open sore.
  • A sore or rough patch inside the mouth.
  • A raised patch or wartlike sore on or in the anus or on the genitals.

It is important to note that this form of skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body - even inside the mouth, on the soles of the feet, or on the genitals. When the disease impacts people with black and brown skin, it tends to occur in areas that are not exposed to the sun.

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