Submitted by jennlara t3_10gjb3t in askscience
NNovis t1_j53felo wrote
Cancer is going to be whatever color tissue it originated from. Liver cancer is probably going to be the color of a liver. Brain cancer, brain color, etc etc. Cancer is just cells in tissue that are growing out of control and taking extra resources from the body to sustain itself, that's all. They're practically normal cells otherwise.
itsybitsybiter t1_j53rtrm wrote
Agree with this. Just want to add two things:
Advanced stage cancer tumors can become necrotic which can lead to discoloration.
And the common skin cancer melanoma means 'cancer arising in melanocytes' which are melanin-pigment producing cells. So these skin cancers (pathological overgrowth of melanocytes) often do look very dark or black, regardless of your normal skin tone.
jennlara OP t1_j554dva wrote
Thank you so much! This really helps as I had no idea what to tell my son.
Yotsubato t1_j56m4c5 wrote
Additionally the cancer you can see on your skin can be pearly, red, or with melanoma black. The worst skin cancer is melanoma.
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