Skin Cancer Information
Melanoma Skin Cancer
Melanoma was once a rare cancer, but increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with it each year, especially in Ireland. This disease tends to affect the younger population. It’s estimated that on average 1,100 melanoma cases were diagnosed in Ireland during 2018-2020, and this is increasing year on year.
Melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer but if spotted early, it is very treatable. If not, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious medical issues. Patients with personal history of melanoma have a 10% increased rate of a second cancer. Family history of the disease increases personal risk also.
Non- Melanoma Skin Cancers
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers are the most common types of skin cancer. These include Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC). They tend to grow in areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun and are more common in the older population.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
BCC typically appears as a pearly or translucent bump with visible blood vessels on the skin. It often develops on sun-exposed areas such as the face and neck. While BCC is slow growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, early treatment is important to prevent damage to the surrounding tissues. BCC can appear as open sores, red patches, shiny bumps, scars or growths that may bleed.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Like BCC, squamous cell cancer tends to occur on sun-exposed body-parts. It most frequently occurs on the hands, head, neck and face, but can also develop on genital skin and other parts of the body. Unlike BCC, SCC has a higher risk of spreading to nearby lymph nodes if left untreated. It can appear as scaly red patches, open sores that don’t heal, raised growths or warts.
