Dermatology > Skin Cancer
Immediate
60 minutes
here are two types of skin cancer, melanoma and non-melanoma. Non-melanoma is much more common than melanoma, developing in the upper layers of the skin, and much less serious than melanoma.
Skin cancer is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light (such as from the sun or from tanning beds and sunlamps). Non-melanoma is found more frequently in the elderly, in men, and in people with lighter skin tones, and currently over 100,000 cases of non-melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year.
The primary symptom of non-melanoma is a lump or patch of discolouration on the skin (a tumour) which progresses slowly over a period of months or years. The lumps are red and firm, sometimes ulcerating; the patches are scaly and flat.
They are more likely to appear on the parts of the body that get the most sun, such as face, shoulders, upper chest and back, ears, and hands.
With treatment, 90% of non-melanoma cases are cured, and non-melanoma carries less risk of spreading throughout the body, as compared with other cancers, although it can reoccur, even after successful treatment.
Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the tumour and surrounding cells. Other treatments are:
The best form of treatment depends on the size, location, and type of non-melanoma. There are four types of non-melanoma skin cancer.
The most common are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but Bowens disease and actinic keratoses also fall under this category.
The sign of a melanoma is usually a change to the shape, colour, size or elevation of an existing mole, or the appearance of a new mole. They tend to be multi-coloured and have an irregular shape.
Skin cancers can be highly aggressive once they take hold. If you notice any changes to existing moles or new moles, please come and talk to one of our specialists, who can help you rule out cancer or decide on the most effective form of treatment.
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