Around 86% of all skin cancers in the UK are attributed to excessive exposure to sunlight.
This includes artificial sources of UV radiation from sunbeds, which is the second most common cause of skin cancer.
Those with a family history of skin cancer are also at higher risk.
Knowing your body and checking for any unusual changes is key when it comes to spotting melanoma early.
Melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK with around 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Experts warn that around one in four skin cancer cases are diagnosed among people aged under 50, which is unusually young compared to most other types of cancers.
Knowing the early signs of melanoma is crucial as the cancer is known to metastasise (spread) to the lymph nodes in the form of a tumour.
It could also grow to the internal organs such as the liver, brain, bone or gastrointestinal tract if not caught early enough.
Skin cancer symptoms
When it comes to spotting melanoma, often spotting a new mole or a mole that has changed in appearance could be major indicators.
Round or oval moles are normal, with smooth edges and usually no bigger than 6mm in diameter.
However, the size of the mole is not what you should be looking out for.
How to check if your mole could be cancer
According to the NHS, the ABDCE check will help you determine if your mole may be cancerous.
This is:
- Asymmetrical – melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape.
- Border – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border.
- Colours – melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours.
- Diameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter.
- Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma.
Signs of skin cancer
Other early cancer symptoms to spot include:
- A sore that doesn’t heal
- Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin
- Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole
- Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain
- Change in the surface of a mole – scaling, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump.
It’s important to show your doctor any areas on the body that you are concerned about.
Often it is difficult to tell the difference between an ordinary mole or melanoma.
“Remember, too, that a small portion of melanomas start in places other than the skin, such as under a fingernail or toenail, inside the mouth, or even in the coloured part of the eye (iris), so it’s important to show a doctor any new or changing spots in these areas as well,” added the American Cancer Society.
