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| >> Patient Information and Leaflets You can download this information by clicking here
What are the aims of this leaflet? This leaflet has been written to help you understand and deal with the risk of developing a skin cancer. It is aimed at people at increased risk, such as those who have already had one or who have heavy sun damage to their skin, or those on immunosuppressive drugs particularly after a transplant. It describes the main types of pre-cancerous and cancerous skin growths, and explains the importance of detecting and treating them early. It tells you how to reduce the risk of getting another skin cancer, and how these can be treated. Why am I more at risk from skin cancer? People who have already had a skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesion have generally had heavy sun exposure, and so may be at increased risk of getting more than one skin cancer. How likely am I to get skin cancer ?Anyone can develop a skin cancer, and this risk increases with time. However some people are more likely to do so than others. They include those who have:
How can I spot the signs of a skin cancer? Treatment will be much easier if your skin cancer is detected early. For this reason, check your skin for changes once a month. A friend or family member can help you with this. You may need to use a mirror to check your back. You should see your doctor if you have any marks on your skin which are:
What do skin cancers, and lesions related to them, look like? Some of the most common are described below. Actinic keratoses (also known as solar keratoses) Skin cancers may be preceded by a pre-cancerous condition known as actinic keratoses. These are usually pink or red spots, with a rough surface, which appear on skin that is exposed to the sun. The head, face, backs of the hands and forearms are most often affected. Actinic keratoses may be easier to feel (their roughness) than they are to see. Early treatment may prevent them changing into skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) Most basal cell carcinomas are painless. People often first become aware of them as a scab that bleeds occasionally and does not heal completely. Some basal cell carcinomas are very superficial and look like a scaly flat red mark: others show a white pearly rim surrounding a central crater. If left for years, the latter type can erode the skin, eventually causing an ulcer – hence the name “rodent ulcer”. Other basal cell carcinomas are quite lumpy, with one or more shiny nodules crossed by small but easily seen blood vessels. Squamous cell carcinoma A squamous cell carcinoma usually appears as a scaly or crusty area of skin, with a red, inflamed base. It may look like an irritated wart, or break down to form a bleeding ulcer. Most small squamous cell carcinomas are not painful. They occur most often on the head, neck, ears, lips, back of the hands and forearms. This is the most frequent type of skin cancer in organ transplant patients. Melanoma Melanomas are much more rare, but are the most serious type of skin cancer. They are usually an irregular brown or black spot, which may start in a pre-existing mole or appear on previously normal skin. Any change in a mole, or any new mole occurring for the first time after the age of thirty, should be shown to your doctor. Remember, if you see any change in your skin - whether an ulcer or a spot - you must tell your doctor or nurse. Any skin problem that does not heal should be shown to a skin specialist (dermatologist). How is skin cancer diagnosed?If your doctor thinks that the mark on your skin needs further investigation, a small piece of the abnormal skin (a biopsy), or the whole area (an excision biopsy), will be cut out and examined under the microscope. You will be given a local anaesthetic beforehand to numb the skin. How can I reduce the risk of getting another skin cancer? Many skin cancers could be avoided by a change of lifestyle. There are three main ways in which you can help to reduce your chance of getting one. These are:
Exposure to the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. This does not just mean sunbathing. You expose yourself to the sun every time you do anything out of doors, including gardening, walking, sports, or a long drive in the car (even with the windows closed). The sun is a problem all year round, not just in the summer. You can take some simple precautions to help prevent a skin cancer appearing:
Top sun safety tips
Can skin cancer be cured?Most skin cancers, if treated early, can be cured. That is why it is important to report any new or changing skin lesion to your doctor. Basal cell carcinomas can be cured in almost every case and seldom, if ever, spread to other parts of the body. Treatment may be more complicated if they have been neglected for a very long time, or if they are in an awkward place - such as near the eye, nose or ear. In a few cases squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma may spread (metastasise) to lymph glands and other organs. How can skin cancer be treated?
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