Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma)

In Northern Ireland in 2021, a total of 45 people were diagnosed with malignant (cancerous) melanoma. In the same year, 3,392 people were diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer. Like most cancers it is more common in older people. But melanoma is more common in younger people in their teens and 20s than some other cancers. The earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat it and the more likely the treatment is to be successful.

The biggest cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet light (UV light) from sunlight, sunbeds or sunlamps. UV light damages skin cells overtime causing them to grow and divide quicker than usual and can develop into cancer. Using a sunbed before the age of 35 can increase your risk on skin cancer.

Other factors that make people more at risk are:

  • Having lots of moles
  • Having family history of melanoma
  • Hair and eye colour
  • Skin type
  • Having reduced immunity (those taking medicines that weaken the immune system)  

Non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancers tend to develop most often on skin that’s exposed to the sun. There is a high cure rate for these cancers. Most people only have minor surgery and don’t need further treatment.

The two most common types of non-melanoma are Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) & Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

These cancers are usually slow growing and very rarely spread to other parts of the body. Nearly everyone with a BCC or SCC who has treatment is cured. However, if left untreated they may spread more deeply into the skin and sometimes into the bones.

Signs and symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer

The main symptom of non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin.

Any part of the skin can be affected but its most common areas are those exposed to the sun:

  • Head, face and ears
  • Neck and shoulders
  • Back
  • Hands
  • Lower legs

Malignant melanoma

About half of all melanomas start with a change in previously normal-looking skin. This usually looks like a dark area or an abnormal new mole. Other melanomas develop from a mole or freckle that you already have. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a melanoma and a normal mole.

Signs and symptoms of melignant melanoma

It is important to see your doctor if you:

  • Have a new mole
  • Have any of the ABCDE signs
  • A mole that seems to be growing or changing shape
  • A mole that seems to be changing colour
  • A mole that is bleeding or becoming crusty
  • A mole that is itchy or painful
  • Change to a previously normal patch of skin
  • Have something growing under a nail or a new-dark coloured strip along part of the nail

ABCDE Checklist

An ‘ABCDE’ checklist has been developed to help people to tell the difference between a normal mole and cancerous mole. 

Most skin cancers don’t give you symptoms like pain or itching. Some non-cancerous (benign) moles or abnormal patches of skin can be itchy. So having some of these changes on their own doesn't mean you definitely have melanoma. But you should still get it checked. 

A-     Asymmetry

  • Normal moles usually have a more even shape and the two halves are similar (symmetrical).
  • Melanomas are likely to have an uneven shape. The two halves may be different shapes or sizes (asymmetrical).  

B-     Border

  • Normal moles usually have a smooth, regular edge.
  • Melanomas are more likely to have irregular edges that are blurry or jagged. 

C-Colour

  • Normal moles usually have an even colour. If they have 2 colours in them, the colours are normally symmetrical across the 2 halves.
  • Melanomas are often an uneven colour and contain more than one shade. A melanoma might have different shades of black, brown and pink.

D-Diameter

  • Normal moles are usually about the size of the end of a pencil or smaller.
  • Most melanomas are more than 6mm wide. But they can be smaller if diagnosed early.

E-Evolving

Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. Or you might notice other changes such as:

  • Bleeding
  • itching
  • a change in sensation to a mole or area of abnormal skin
  • a mole becoming crusty

Resources

There are a number of websites that provide information relating to melanoma cancer, these include:

This is not an exhaustive list and other sources of support in Northern Ireland can also be accessed via Northern Ireland Cancer Network and Useful links | Be Cancer Aware.

Publications

Signs and symptoms