At an event held by L'Oréal Paris and the Melanoma Research Alliance, Diane Keaton explained her experience with skin cancer: she'd been diagnosed with squamous cell tumor carcinoma several years ago but was first diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma when she was 21.
Diane didn't realize the sore on her skin was skin cancer. "It’s tricky. If you’re aware of your moles, you’re better off. But this wasn’t a mole," she said. "It was almost like a pimple, kind of. It was weird, very strange. It wasn’t ever black — I had none of those symptoms — and it wouldn’t go away."
We contacted celebrity dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, who helped explain each type of skin cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma: The most common form of skin cancer, which affects parts of the skin that are most exposed to the sun. This is a treatable form of cancer, if caught in the early stages, and looks like a red bump or a blemish.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Another common form of skin cancer. It look like a scaly, crusty growth. It doesn't heal, is popular in older individuals, and can be treated if caught early.
Melanoma: It's not the most common form of skin cancer, but it is the most deadly. Resembles a mole that is irregular in shape, color, and elevation.
