Skin Cancer

New for 2011 - we are launching a fresh range of posters and leaflets, available free of charge. To find out more, click here. 

SUN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN	Sun Awareness and Ultimate Skincare - learn more about this year's 'early detection' campaigns
	Sun Awareness campaign supporters - read about our celebrity and sporting partners
	Sun Awareness leaflets and posters - order our pack free of charge
	ABCD-Easy way to check your moles
	Tell your story to the media - find out more about becoming a skin cancer case study, to help raise awareness of the disease
MELANOMA TASKFORCE	Information on the signs of skin cancer for well-being, hair and beauty professionals - find out more about the campaign, and download the new guidance for free
SUNBEDS	Sunbeds - our position statement, statistics and more
SKIN CANCER - GENERAL ADVICE	Sunscreen and skin cancer fact sheet -  everything you need to know about sunscreen, sun safety, skin types, vitamin D and much more.
	Our top sun safety tips - our top 5 tips to preventing skin cancer from sun damage
	Sun Awareness leaflets and posters
	Do I need to pay to get a mole checked?
	Vitamin D and the sun
	Providing public information to prevent skin cancer: A summary of key messages to be included in public information resources for the primary prevention of skin cancer. This link opens the NICE website.
	Skin Cancer Hub - take a look at the South West Public Health Observatory's Skin Cancer Hub, which provides a vast range of information on the disease and prevention resources (N.B. link takes you to an external site)
MELANOMA and MOLES	Melanoma: an overview
	Moles
	Melanoma: 1. Prevention
	Melanoma: 2. Symptoms
	Melanoma: 3. Referral, tests and investigations
	Melanoma: 4. Diagnosis and staging
	Melanoma: 5. Treatments
	Melanoma: 6. Follow up care
	Melanoma: 7. Advanced disease and recurrence
NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER	Basal Cell Carcinoma
	Squamous Cell Carcinoma
SKIN CANCER PATIENTS	How to reduce risk of getting a second skin cancer
N.B. The 'what happens' presentations all contain images of surgery. They may also take a few moments to download.	What happens when you have photodynamic therapy (PDT) (2.22MB)
	What happens when you have a skin biopsy (2.66MB)
	What happens when you have a punch biopsy (2.31MB)
	What happens when you have a shave excision (2.48MB)
TRANSPLANT PATIENTS	Skin cancer link to transplants - risks and information
SKIN DISORDERS LINKED TO SKIN CANCER	Actinic keratosis
	Bowens disease
	Mycosis fungoides
GUIDELINES	Mycosis Fungoides / Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma guidelines - BAD
	Actinic Keratosis guidelines - BAD
	Basal Cell Carcinoma guidelines - BAD
	Squamous Cell Carcinoma guidelines - BAD
	Melanoma guidlines - BAD
	Bowen's Disease guidelines - BAD
CONTACT	For more information about the Sun Awareness campaign, email comms@bad.org.uk.

 

This section contains information about skin cancer, sunscreens, Sun Awareness, the literature you can order from us, and more:

 There are two main categories of skin cancer - melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma (also known as 'malignant melanoma') is less common than non-melanoma cancers, but is the most dangerous. Non-melanoma skin cancers are mainly comprised of 'Basal Cell Carcinoma' (BCC) and 'Squamous Cell Carcinoma' (SCC). BCC is the most common and the least dangerous. In the menu above are fact sheets about each of the different types of cancer.

Top sun safety tips

You don't have to avoid the sun all year, but taking a few steps when out and about in the summer sun or when on a sunshine holiday will help to protect you from sunburn and the risk of skin cancer.

• Protect the skin with clothing, including a hat, T shirt and UV protective sunglasses 
• Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny  
• Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 (SPF 50 for children or people with pale skin) which also has high UVA protection
• Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight
• The British Association of Dermatologists recommends that you tell your doctor about any changes to a mole – if your GP is concerned about your skin, make sure you see a Consultant Dermatologist (on the GMC register of specialists), the most expert person to diagnose a skin cancer. Your GP can refer you via the NHS.

Sunscreens should not be used as an alternative to clothing and shade, rather they offer additional protection. No sunscreen will provide 100% protection.The British Skin Foundation Skin Cancer Appeal is raising money for vital research into skin cancer. To donate, call the BSF on 0207 391 6341.