Cancers that can cause rashes include lymphomas (like Mycosis Fungoides/Sézary Syndrome), leukemia, and sometimes internal cancers like pancreatic, liver, or bile duct cancer, which cause intense itching, while inflammatory breast cancer can present as a sudden rash, and even skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma can have rash-like forms, often presenting as itchy, scaly patches. These skin changes are due to cancerous cells affecting the skin or the body's reaction to the cancer, requiring medical evaluation for proper diagnosis.
Some basal cell carcinomas may appear as raised, pink or red, translucent, shiny, pearly bumps that may bleed after a minor injury. They may have a lower area in their center, and blue, brown, or black areas. Know the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma.
Rashes and skin changes can also be caused by certain cancers. For example, itchiness and night sweats can be symptoms of some lymphomas. Some leukemias and breast cancers can cause rashes.
While most people with liver cancer won't develop a skin rash, the cancer can metastasize to the skin in some cases. However, this is rare. If this does occur, you may notice a rash consisting of small, reddish, non-painful nodules. Liver cancer isn't the only liver condition that causes a skin rash.
When a rash caused by skin lymphoma (also referred to as cutaneous lymphoma) is in its early stages, it often presents as small patches of dry, red skin on the torso, buttocks or another area of the body. At this stage, the rash often resembles dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis.
Stage 1: Dry, red, scaly patches or bumps on skin, but no tumors. Lymph nodes are normal. Stage 2: Dry, red, scaly patches or bumps on skin, but no tumors. Lymph nodes are enlarged but do not contain cancer cells.
Symptoms
People may have a reddish purple rash of tiny dots or larger splotches, caused by bleeding from small blood vessels in the skin. If the liver function has been impaired for a long time, people may itch all over.
Four key warning signs of a damaged liver include jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), abdominal issues (swelling, pain), fatigue/weakness, and changes in urine/stool color, alongside symptoms like itchy skin, easy bruising, confusion, or nausea, indicating the liver isn't filtering toxins or clotting blood properly.
Chronic urticaria as a paraneoplastic syndrome preceding a cancer diagnosis has been reported for various malignancies, including breast,5, 6, 7 non-small cell lung,11 neuroendocrine,12 colorectal,13,14 prostate,15 and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
With lymphoma, you can itch anywhere on your body, but it's common on the lower legs, hands, feet, torso (between waist and shoulders), or near affected lymph nodes, often worsening at night and without a typical rash, feeling deep and unrelieved by scratching. This itchiness is caused by immune chemicals (cytokines) irritating nerve endings, and can be a symptom of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Common Types of Precancerous Skin Growths
Actinic keratosis (AK): Also sometimes called solar keratosis because they're caused by sun damage, these small, scaly, or crusty patches can be pink, red, or various colors. They usually feel rough, like sandpaper on the skin. They're more common on fair skin.
There isn't a blood test that will show whether or not you have lymphoma. But blood tests can check your general health and can sometimes pick up problems caused by lymphoma. Blood tests can check: how well your liver and kidneys are working.
Cutaneous T-cell Skin Lymphoma Symptoms
Mycosis fungoides is the most common T-cell skin lymphoma. It can start out as patches of dry, sometimes scaly, and itchy skin. These rashes may show up most often on the buttocks or between the waist and shoulders. But they can occur anywhere on the body.
The 7 key warning signs of cancer often include changes in bowel/bladder habits, a sore that won't heal, unusual bleeding/discharge, a lump or thickening, persistent indigestion/difficulty swallowing, changes in moles, and a nagging cough or hoarseness, though many symptoms can overlap, so persistent changes warrant a doctor visit. These signs, especially when lasting over a couple of weeks, suggest a need for medical evaluation to rule out serious conditions, notes the American Cancer Society and Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms might include a skin rash. This usually starts with small circles of redness which develop into itchy, painful blisters. The rash is called necrolytic migratory erythema (NME).
Early symptoms can include:
Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with cholestatic liver disease. Pruritus associated with cholestasis is characteristically localized to the palms and soles, although generalized itching can also occur.
Fetor hepaticus is a distinct smell on the breath of someone with liver disease. It happens when your liver can't filter certain toxic substances from your blood anymore. These substances build up in your blood and come out in your breath. You may also detect the same smell in your pee or sweat.
Psoriasis typically causes patches of skin that are dry and covered in scales. On brown, black and white skin the patches can look pink or red, and the scales white or silvery. On brown and black skin the patches can also look purple or dark brown, and the scales may look grey.
Symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
How patients described their first signs of lymphoma
The most common skin lymphoma is a T-cell skin lymphoma called mycosis fungoides. At an early stage, patches of dry, discoloured (usually red) skin often appear. They can look like more common skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis. The patches tend to be dry, sometimes scaly and may be itchy.
Leukemia symptoms commonly include: