• Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world
• Skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers
• More than 90% of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun
• Melanoma is the most common life threatening cancer in the 15 to 44 year age group
• Melanoma is the third most common life threatening cancer in both men and women overall

There are different types of skin cancers. More common varieties are

Basal Cell Cancers (BCC)

They are generally locally spreading cancers. But some BCCs like micronodular and sclerosing types are aggressive forms of BCCs, which has the potential to spread.

Squamous Cell Cancers (SCC)

They are more aggressive varieties, which can spread to the Lymph Glands and other parts of body.

Melanoma

They are more aggressive than above two types. They can rapidly spread via blood stream throughout the body. People will die if it spread to vital organs like liver, kidney, lungs etc.

There are other rare verities of skin cancers like Spindle cell cancers, Merckel Cell Cancers etc., which can be life threatening as well.

How important is whole body Skin Check?

The best way to prevent death from skin cancers is early diagnosis (before skin cancer spread) and treatment. Many of skin cancers including melanoma are not always visible to the naked eye. They appear just like a normal mole. Doctors use a special device called dermoscope, which magnifies the mole/skin lesion about 10 times. An expert can identify a skin cancer by looking at the various features of the lesion. Sometimes the lesions or moles need to be monitored periodically (3 monthly or 6 monthly) to see if there is any change (growth). Mole Scan Machine (Dermdoc) is special equipment for computer assisted skin scanning. The pictures of the moles can be stored and used for periodic monitoring. The magnification of the mole is 30-40 times the size of the mole.

Who needs regular Skin Check?

• Those who have family history of skin cancers
• Age >40
• Those who have lot of sun exposure, sunburn, sun tan etc.
• Those who have many moles or freckles (irrespective of age)
• Those who has any skin cancers removed
• Caucasians of Northern European ancestry

You can check your risk of skin cancer by checking following site.

http://scanyourskin.org/skin-cancer-risk-checklist/

What is whole body skin check?

It is a head to toe thorough whole body check, first with the naked eye and then with a computerised magnifying device (Dermdoc) or dermoscope to analyse the details of each skin lesion. Doctor will take pictures of the skin lesions and mark the location on the body images for further monitoring or removal.

What happens after skin check?

If any skin lesion found to be suspicious, the doctor decides either to monitor or to biopsy (sending a small part of lesion for microscopic examination).

What are the treatments for skin cancer?

Treatments depend upon the type of skin cancer and extend of spread.

Excision and closure

Skin cancers will be removed with adequate margin. The defect is closed either by direct closure or flaps or skin grafts.

Cryotherapy

Some superficial skin cancers can be treated by freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)

Chemotherapy

Some cancer destroying agents like Aldara can be used to treat superficial BCCs

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is used for extensive skin cancers or cancer spread to other parts of body.