Skin Cancer Awareness Month 2023

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about Skin Cancer and its symptoms. This is a particularly important cause as the weather is warming up and we are spending more time in the sun.

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and appears in several ways, with the two most common being Melanoma or Non-Melanoma.

Melanoma

Melanoma can develop from existing moles or can appear as a new mark on the skin. Whilst these can appear anywhere on the skin, in men these are most common on the body and in women these are most common on the legs. In adults, 70% of melanomas are NOT associated with existing moles.

Non-Melanoma

Non-Melanomas are more common than melanomas. They are not connected to moles and can be less serious as they are less likely to spread to other parts of the body. The two most common types are Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common and tends to be isolated to an affected area, whereas Squamous Cell Carcinoma can be more dangerous as it can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.

How to spot Melanoma and Non-Melanoma?

When caught and treated early, skin cancers are highly curable. You should, therefore, regularly check for any abnormalities in your skin. Skin cancers appear in many shapes and sizes; therefore, it is important to know the warning signs associated with skin cancer. This could include any of the following:

• a growth that increases in size and appears pearly, transparent, tan, brown, black or multi-coloured
• a mole, birthmark or brown spot that increases in size, thickness, changes colour or texture or is bigger than a pencil eraser
• a spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or bleed
• an open sore that does not heal within three weeks.

An easy way to remember this is by remembering your ABCD’s:

• Asymmetry – the two halves of the affected area differ in shape
• Border – the edges of the area may be irregular or blurred and sometimes show notches
• Colour – this may appear uneven
• Diameter – most melanomas are at least 6mm thick in diameter.

What causes skin cancers?

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is the main cause of skin cancers. UV light comes from the sun, as well as artificial tanning sunbeds and sunlamps.

Other risk factors that can increase your chances of skin cancer include:

• a previous melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer
• a family history of skin cancer
• pale skin that burns easily
• a large number of moles or freckles
• taking medications that suppress your immune system
• a co-existing medical condition that suppresses your immune system.

How do I try and prevent skin cancer?

Skin cancers are not always preventable; however, you can reduce your chance of developing them by avoiding too much UV light exposure. You can protect yourself from sunburn by using high factor sunscreen, dressing sensibly in the sun and limiting the time you spend in the sun during the hottest parts of the day. You should also try and avoid using sunbeds and sunlamps.

Treatment options

Treatment options for skin cancer include (but are not limited to):

• surgery
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy cream
• imiquimod cream (a cream that uses your body’s natural defences to help kill cancer cells)
• targeted drugs and immunotherapy
• photodynamic therapy.

Depending on the stage and grade of the cancer, you may have a combination of treatments. Your doctor will consider your situation to decide on your best treatment options.

How often should I check my skin?

It is recommended that you run a thorough check of your skin once a month as a ‘self-exam’. This can be done by thoroughly checking all areas of your skin, including any non-obvious areas such as your lips, the front and back of your ears, scalp, feet, buttocks and wrists. Be sure to take a picture or document any abnormalities you may find.

Remember, if in doubt, CHECK IT OUT! Be sure to see your GP if you have any skin abnormalities, such as a lump, ulcer, lesion or skin discolouration that has not healed after four weeks.

Resources

To learn more about skin cancer, please visit:

• The Skin Cancer Foundation
• Cancer Research UK – skin cancer
• Macmillian – skin cancer awareness
• NHS – melanoma
• NHS – non-melanoma

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