Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia

 

there are three types of skin cancer:

1- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

2- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

3- Melanoma

BCC is the most common type which consists 85% of all skin cancers

SCC stands next and constitutes 10% of skin cancer

The most dangerous one is Melanoma

 

Two in three Australian will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70

BCC might look only slightly different than normal skin.

BCC appears as pearly bumps with colours ranging from white to flesh cloloured.

Sometimes skin might be slightly raised or even flat .

Common signs of BCC you might notice:

• a lesion that bleeds easily
• a lesion that doesn't heal
• oozing or crusting spots
• appearance of a scar-like lesion without having injured the area
• irregular blood vessels in or around the lesion
• a lesion with a central depression

SCC has differents shapes and colours

it grows rapidly in sun exposed areas such as head, face, neck and upper limbs.

It might look like a rough scaly patch

Invasive SCC looks like a raised, firm, red bump or nodule or an ulcer.

SCC may vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters if left untreated.

 

Melanoma most commonly presents on sun exposed skin as a new or changing mole or pigmentation

It usually appears in people who were exposed to sun for a long time

unprotected sun exposure is a major risk

other risk factors:

• tanning and sunburn in childhood
• short and intense periods of exposure to UV such a sunburns
• numerous numbers of moles
• a family history of melanoma in a first degree relative
• fair skin which burns rather than tan
• light or red hair
• freckles
• light eye colour

 

The sooner a skin cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better your chance of avoiding a surgery or, in the case of melanoma or other serious skin cancers, potential disfigurement or death.

become familiar with the look of your skin, so you can pick up any changes that might suggest a skin cancer.

Look for:

1.  any crusty, non-healing sores
2. small lumps that are red, pale or pearly in colour
3. new spots, freckles or any moles changing in colour, thickness or shape over a period of weeks to months.