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The early signs of skin cancer, and how to prevent it

The early signs of skin cancer, and how to prevent it

With skin cancer increasing, it's more important than ever to recognise the warning signs. Here are the symptoms to look out for, and how to protect your skin

It’s summer! Time to shed a few layers of clothing. But while sunshine feels good on bare skin, be cautious about going unprotected outdoors for too long. Skin cancer is on the rise, now accounting for one in every three cancers diagnosed worldwide.

But how can that be, when we are seeing more safe-sun campaigns and public education around skin cancer?

It’s mainly down to better detection strategies and the fact that we are living longer than ever.

“The longer you live, the higher your chances are of eventually developing a skin cancer,” says Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, a New York City dermatologist and president of the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The good news is that when caught early, it’s highly treatable.

Skin cancer is typically grouped into two categories: non-melanoma and malignant melanoma. Non-melanoma types, which include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are the most common and account for the vast majority of cases.

"Skin cancer is on the rise, now accounting for one in every three cancers diagnosed worldwide"

The main risk factor is cumulative ultraviolet (UV) exposure, so skin cancer can appear as we age, typically on the areas that are most often exposed to the sun.

“That includes the face, ears, scalp and neck,” says Dr. Clare Tait, a dermatologist based in Perth, Australia—the country with the world’s highest rate of melanoma, according to World Cancer Research Fund International.

Melanoma accounts for just one percent of skin cancers but it is by far the deadliest. It, too, is caused by UV exposure—and if you’ve had five or more sunburns, your risk is doubled—but it can also be the result of an inherited gene mutation.

Melanoma usually shows up on the chest, back, lower legs, head and neck, but it can also occur on areas of the body that are rarely exposed to the sun, such as the soles of your feet or under your nails.

It’s so dangerous because it can spread deeper into the skin or to other organs, so treatment is more difficult.

The promise of a skin cancer vaccine

mRNA vaccine to combat skin cancerA breakthrough in the mRNA vaccine could reduce the risk of death or recurrence of skin cancer

But there’s good news: an mRNA vaccine clinical trial by the pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck has just been shown to be an effective treatment for late-stage melanoma.

The results, announced in December 2022, showed that when a personalised mRNA vaccine is used in combination with immunotherapy following surgical removal of the skin cancer, the risk of recurrence or death in patients with stage three or stage four melanoma was reduced by 44 per cent compared with immunotherapy and surgery alone.

"The vaccine essentially trains the body’s immune system to recognise and respond to mutations in the DNA"

The vaccines, the subject of decades of study for personalised cancer treatments, work by providing a section of genetic code—like instructions—that tell our cells how to make a specific spike protein that the immune system learns to attack.

“The vaccine essentially trains the body’s immune system to recognise and respond to mutations in the DNA specific to the patient’s tumour,” explains Sarnoff. A larger trial is planned for this year.

“It’s very exciting and a great breakthrough,” she says, because late-stage melanoma—when the cancer has spread to other organs—has too often been a death sentence.

If approved, this vaccine could be another option for patients with late-stage melanoma, which is currently treated with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy.

How to check for skin cancer

Moles on back with risk of skin cancerGet to know the moles and other marks on your body so you can recognise any skin changes

Prevention and early detection remain your best defence. “With early detection, melanoma that’s still limited to the epidermis is virtually 100 per cent curable,” says Sarnoff. That’s why it’s important that you get to know your skin and keep an eye on existing moles and any skin changes.

Aim to do that every three months, says Anne Cust, chair of Cancer Council Australia’s Skin Cancer Committee. “Consider taking photos of spots you are concerned about so that you can keep tabs on them.”

Ask a friend or your partner to check the areas that you might not be able to see, like the scalp, back of the neck, buttocks and lower back, advises Tait. Use a mirror and good light.

If you spot anything of concern, see a doctor. It’s also a good idea to have an annual check-up with a dermatologist or family doctor.

Signs of skin cancer to look for

Inspecting large mole that could be sign of melanoma skin cancerLarge moles (bigger than six millimetres) could indicate melanoma

Changes 

Dermatologists have long recommended looking for moles that have an irregular border or variations in colour, or are large (more than six millimetres, roughly the size of the eraser on the end of a pencil).

Sarnoff suggests this simple rule of thumb: “Anything on your skin that’s new, changing or unusual should be checked out,” she advises.

New moles or abnormalities

Watch for new spots, freckles or moles, particularly if you’re older than 25. It’s common for adults to have anywhere from 10 to 40 moles; more than 50 is an increased risk factor for melanoma.

Small bumps that are red, pink or pearly in colour could be BCC, especially if they appear on skin that gets the most sun exposure, such as the face, neck, scalp, hands and shoulders.

A freckle or mole that’s changed

This should be looked at by a doctor, says Tait. “It might be a change in shape, colour or size, or maybe it becomes painful or itchy,” she says. “Of course, all of those things can happen without it being a skin cancer, but it should be an alarm bell to get it checked.”

A dry, scaly patch or a sore that won’t heal

“If you have a spot that’s chronically itching and scabbing, and keeps popping up at the same site, that’s a red flag,” says Sarnoff.

And pay close attention if you have an area that bleeds repeatedly without trauma, as this could be a sign of BCC, says Tait. If a sore or unusual spot hasn’t resolved in three to four weeks, seek medical attention.

A pimple that won’t go away

“The life of a pimple is a few days up to a maximum of three weeks,” says Sarnoff. If you have what looks like a pimple, but it isn’t going away, it could be BCC or SCC.

Anything different from the rest

Healthy freckles and moles tend to look similar. “If something looks like it’s an outlier, you should get it checked,” says Sarnoff. It might be a bit bigger than the others, darker or perhaps raised while the others are flat. When something looks off, trust your instincts, she says.

How to prevent skin cancer

Woman wearing sun hat and sleeves to protect herself from sun and skin cancerWear a sun hat and sleeves to protect your skin from harmful UV rays

Sun protection is most important when the UV index reaches three or above,” says Tait. During summer, that’s typically the middle few hours of the day. You can check the daily UV index with most weather apps.

And don’t worry that you won’t be getting enough vitamin D, says Cust. “Most people maintain adequate vitamin D levels just by spending a few minutes outdoors on most days.”

"Sun protection is most important when the UV index reaches three or above"

Fair-skinned people with blue eyes and blonde hair, and those who have a family history of melanoma or already have a lot of moles, are at higher risk than others.

If that’s you, take extra precautions outdoors, says Tait. Wear clothing that covers you up, a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF30 or higher, a hat and sunglasses. And be a shade seeker!

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