The most common cancer in Australia, skin cancer is a disease of the body's skin cells caused mainly by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun.
Cancer can form if the cells multiply abnormally and form a malignant tumour. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. There are two types of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC): basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
BCC is the most common form of skin cancer. It usually develops as a small, round, raised, red or pale spot. SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer.
BCC normally appears as a thickened red, scaly spot that may later bleed easily or ulcerate. Both types of NMSC mainly develop on areas of the body exposed to ultraviolet radiation and are usually treatable if detected early.
About 740,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year and 95% of these are treated successfully because the disease is usually cured if detected early.
Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, is the fourth most common type of cancer in Australia (after bowel, breast, prostate and lung cancer). |
