Skin Cancer (not melanoma)
What Is It?
The term "skin cancer" refers to squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer, not melanoma. Together these are called non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).Official figures record over 67,500 cases of non melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the UK in 2003. This makes it the most common type of cancer. The actual number of cases may be much higher, because this type of cancer tends to be under reported. Most cases of skin cancer are easily treated and cured and these skin cancers are often left out of national cancer statistics.
Most skin cancers are caused by long term exposure to the sun. The ultraviolet light in sunlight damages the DNA in the skin cells. This damage can happen years before a cancer develops. The sun’s rays contain 3 types of ultraviolet light.
For more information on risk factors click here.
Symptoms
It will help you to spot skin cancers early if you are aware of how your skin normally looks. That way, you will recognise any changes more easily.Skin cancers can appear as:
A spot or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks
A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, scab, crust or bleed for more than 4 weeks
Areas where the skin has broken down or ulcerates with no obvious cause, and does not heal within 4 weeks
An ulcer is an area that is breaking down and begins to get deeper. This can be called erosion.
Basal cell skin cancers look like a small, slow growing shiny pink or red lump. If left, they tend to become crusty, ulcerate or bleed. They are commonest on the face, scalp, ears, hands, shoulders and back.
Squamous cell skin cancers are usually pink lumps. They may have hard of scaly skin on the surface. They can bleed easily and ulcerate. They are most often found on the face, neck, lips, ears, hands, shoulders, arms and legs.
Treatment
The main treatments used are:Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Photo dynamic therapy (PDT)
Other treatments - retinoids and interferon