Skin Cancer - The Facts There are three types of skin cancer: the two most common are Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinomas. They are easily treated and rarely fatal. The third and most dangerous is the malignant melanoma. Skin cancer is the second most common cancer in the United Kingdom, with about 40,500 new cases each year, of which 6,000 are malignant melanomas. About 1,500 people die from melanomas in Britain every year. By the year 2001, 1 in every 90 people in the US will get malignant melanoma. The UK figure is 1 in every 150-200. Melanomas can spread two ways: horizontally, which gives rise to the superficial spreading melanoma, or they can grow downwards and the cells will invade the lymph glands, which is much more dangerous. There's strong evidence that melanomas occur on sun-damaged skin and that people are particularly at risk when they have sudden, short bursts of sunlight on holidays in places where the sun is very strong. People most at risk from melanoma include those (1) with a high number of moles, (2) with red or fair hair, blue eyes, fair skin and freckles, (3) who tan with difficulty and burn in the sun, and (4) with a history of the disease in two or more family members. More women than men get melanomas. This form of cancer occurs mainly in the 40-60 year age group, but it can strike at any age. However, children are rarely affected. A tan is not a sign of health, it is a sign that the skin has been damaged by ultraviolet radiation. When cells are damaged by the sun, melanin rushes to the surface to provide protection against the next onslaught. As you slowly build up a 'protective' tan, your skin is darkening in response to damage on top of damage. Although melanomas can affect most parts of the body, the most common place for women to get them is on the legs, whilst in men, it is on the trunk, particularly on the back. Over the past 60 years, damage to the planet's ozone layer has increased the amount of harmful radiation that reaches your skin. UV radiation is made up of UVA and UVB rays. UVA ages the skin and UVB burns the skin. Both can cause skin cancer. UV radiation is not felt as heat on the skin, so even on a cool and cloudy day, it may be just as high and just as damaging as on a clear and sunny day. If detected early, skin cancer has a 99% cure rate. Back To Main Page