Skin

Skin Cancer

Sun exposure is the main cause of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Like most cancers, skin cancer is more common with increasing age, but melanoma is disproportionately high in younger people. The most common site for men to develop a melanoma is on the chest or back. For women it is on the legs.

About Skin Cancer	How to be Sun Smart
Symptoms of Non-Melonoma Skin Cancer	Sun Beds
Symptoms of Melanoma	What is Cobalt doing?
What causes Skin Cancer?	Factsheet Information
What makes us at Risk?

76,596 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were diagnosed in the UK in 2005, however, this figure is inaccurate as many cases are treated by the patients GP and are never reported. Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer is usually very successful.

In the UK 9,583 people were diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2005. Deaths from this form of skin cancer have increased from 1,040 cases in 1986 to 1,852 in 2006.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common and easily treated type of cancer. More than nine out of ten skin cancers are of this type. The two most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas which are easily treated and rarely fatal.

Symptoms of Non - Melanoma Skin

A new growth or sore that does not heal within four weeks
Persistent skin ulcers that are not explained by other causes
A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or starts to bleed

Symptoms of Melanoma

There are signs which help ti identify Melanoma - look for changes to a skin mole including:
An existing mole or dark patch is getting larger or a new one is growing
A mole has a ragged outline (ordinary moles are smooth and regular)
A mole has a mixture of different shades of brown and black (ordinary moles may be dark brown but are all one shade)

If you detect any of the changes above see your doctor immediately.

The signs listed above do not necessarily mean that a mole is becoming cancerous but again it is best to check with your doctor just to make sure. Remember the sooner cancer is detected and treated the better the chance of a complete recovery.

What causes Skin Cancer?

Most skin cancers are linked to sunburn or prolonged exposure to the sun. Skin cells are damaged by the electromagnetic radiation that makes up sunshine (this is different from the radiation associated with nuclear energy.) The dangerous rays contain UV radiation and can penetrate deep into our cells and cause gene damage, the trigger for cancer.

UV radiation comes in three types: UVA, UVB and UVC

UVA is responsible for skin ageing and is also likely to cause skin cancer. Sunbeds emit UVA radiation.

UVB radiation makes up a small proportion of the sun's UV radiation. But it can cause redness and burning and prolonged exposure can result in blistering and second degree burns. Exposure to UVB rays is a risk factor for both non-melanoma skin cancers and malignant melanoma.

UVC is filtered out by the ozone layer and does not reach the earth.

What makes people at risk?

People most at risk of Skin Cancer tend to have:
Fair skin that burns in strong sun
Red or fair hair
Lots of moles or freckles
A personal or family history of skin cancer
Experience of sunburn, especially when young

The strength of UV rays outdoors varies from day to day and according to the time of year. Find out how strong the sun is by looking at the UV Index (this can be found in a newspaper or the television weather forecast). Your burn risk depends on the strength of UV rays and your skin type.

Remember to be SunSmart both at work, at home and on holiday.

How to be Sun Smart

Sunscreens do not offer total protection from the sun's rays and using it is only one way to reduce your risk of skin cancer. To be SunSmart you need to:

Avoid the sun when at its height (usually 11am - 3pm)
Take care never to burn
Use shade whenever possible: trees, umbrellas, shelters
Take extra special care of babies' and children's delicate skin
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection
Cover up with tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing; long sleeves, trousers, skirts
Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) on exposed skin
Avoid using sunbeds or tanning lamps
Check your skin regularly and report any unusual changes to your doctor without delay.

EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE SUN.

Babies under six months are evn more at risk because their skin has not yet developed all its natural defences. They should be kept out of the sun at all times.

Sun Beds

Avoid using sun-beds. It is now known that the UVA radiation emitted by sun-beds can contribute to skin cancer as well as ageing skin prematurely. A tan produced by UVA only, does not thicken the skin as natural sunlight does and therefore offers little protection against sunburn - perhaps at best the equivalent of an SPF 4 sunscreen. Long term frequent use of a sun-bed can cause permanent damage to your skin.