Skin cancer medicine

Close-up of a woman's face and neck, showing multiple moles on her cheek and neck, with long dark hair.

Australia is globally reputed for our high incidence of skin cancer.

Unfortunately, the downside of our beautiful coastlines and outdoor lifestyles is UV exposure, sunburn and eventually skin cancer.

If you haven’t already had a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) or Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) identified and removed, it’s likely that you know a few people who have.

It’s estimated that 69% of Australians will have at least one keratinocyte cancer (BCC or SCC) excised in their lifetime*. This lifetime risk is only going to increase with age, which is why regular skin checks and sun protective measures (think slip, slop, slap skin cancer prevention campaign) are so important!

So, how do you self-monitor for skin cancer and what are you looking for?

Below is a quick guide for identifying the most typical skin cancer types.

* Adele CG, Alison JV, Bruna SR, Catherine MO, David CW, Nirmala P.  Keratinocyte cancer incidence in Australia: a review of population-based incidence trends and estimates of lifetime risk, Public Health Research & Practice [Internet].  2022; 32(1). Available from:  https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3212203.
Diagram of a human body with labels pointing to different areas including face and scalp, neck and shoulders, front and back of arms including armpits, front and back of hands with fingers and under fingernails, legs, and between toes and on soles of feet, alongside a standing mirror.

How to check your skin

Make sure you check your entire body, as skin cancers can sometimes occur on parts of the body that are not exposed to the sun, such as the soles of the feet, between fingers and toes and under nails.

Undress completely and make sure you have good light.

Use a mirror to check hard to see spots, like your back and scalp, or get a family member, partner or friend to check for you.

What to look for

There are three main types of skin cancer:

01
Melanoma
(including nodular melanoma)

02
Basal cell
carcinoma

03
Squamous cell
carcinoma

Close-up of irritated skin with dark scaly patches and hair surrounding the area.

Melanoma

  • An extremely serious form of skin cancer.

  • If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.

  • Appears as a new spot or an existing spot that changes in colour, size or shape.

  • Can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun.

Close-up of a large, ulcerated skin lesion or wound with a measuring scale underneath.

Nodular melanoma

  • Grows quickly.

  • Looks different from common melanomas (raised and even in colour).

  • Many are red or pink; some are brown or black.

  • They are firm to touch and dome-shaped.

  • After a while, they begin to bleed and crust.

Close-up of a skin lesion on the face, appearing red, inflamed, with a blister and scabbing. Text overlay reads: "Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand."

Basal cell carcinoma

  • Very common form of skin cancer.

  • Red, pale or pearly in colour, appears as a lump or dry, scaly area.

  • May ulcerate or fail to completely heal.

  • Grows slowly, usually on areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Close-up of a skin ulcer with a black scab and surrounding redness, on human skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma

  • A thickened, red scaly spot that may bleed easily, crust or ulcerate.

  • Grows over some months, usually on areas often exposed to the sun.

  • More likely to occur in people over 50 years of age.

ABCDE melanoma detection guide

The ABCDE of melanoma detection can be a useful guide when checking your skin.

Close-up of a mole or skin lesion with uneven pigmentation and irregular borders

A is for Asymmetry

Look for spots that lack symmetry. That is, if a line was drawn through the middle, the two sides would not match up.

Close-up of a mole or skin lesion on human skin

B is for Border

A spot with a spreading or irregular edge (notched).

Close-up of a mole on skin

C is for Colour

Blotchy spots with a number of colours such as black, blue, red, white and/or grey.

Close-up of skin with a dark mole or spot.

D is for Diameter

Look for spots that are getting bigger.

Close-up of a mole or skin lesion on skin.

E is for Evolving

Spots that are changing and growing.

Images sourced from Cancer Council website, https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/check-for-signs-of-skin-cancer

For more information on skin cancer self-monitoring, please head to the Cancer Council sun safety website:

CANCER COUNCIL WEBSITE