Dr Michelle O'Driscoll: Recognising the signs of skin cancer 

Skin cancer survival rates are improving according to a recent National Cancer Registry of Ireland report. This is really hopeful news, as more than 11,000 thousand people in Ireland are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. It is recognised as one of the most preventable cancers, but early diagnosis is key for positive outcomes, and recognition is required in order to be able to bring anything unusual to the attention of your doctor.

Skin cancer is divided into two types, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma.

Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common and include basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. They are less aggressive cancers which progress slowly over months or years and have very high survival rates.

Melanomas are diagnosed less often, but still in significant numbers annually. This is a more invasive cancer and is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Survival rates depend on the stage of disease at diagnosis.

Most moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are harmless – but not always.

The ABCDEs can help you detect melanoma when it comes to any brown spots, moles or growths on the skin. While most are harmless, the following criteria helps to evaluate this.

A-Asymmetry

Benign moles tend to be quite symmetrical and equal on both sides, but melanomas grow and spread in a more random shape, making them asymmetrical.

B- Border

A smooth border is more reassuring than a jagged or rugged edge to the mole.

C- Colour

Multiple colours on any one mole are awarning sign for melanoma. Different shades of brown, tan or black, or even red, white or blue may appear as it progresses.

D– Diameter/Dark

Larger lesions raise more of an alarm bell, as does anything that looks darker than other moles on your body. 6mm in diameter or larger is a guide for what to be keeping a closer eye on.

E-Evolving

Any change in size, shape, colour or height of a spot on your skin, or anything like bleeding, itching or crusting, means you need to get this mole checked. For those with a large number of moles on their bodies, an annual mole-mapping that checks for any of these changes in a very accurate and controlled way is advised. This gives peace of mind that nothing insidious is happening.

Researchers are continually working on better skin cancer treatment, but also important in the improvement of survival rates, isbetter UV awarenessand protection.

Children and young people are particularly prone to burning. Children have thinner skin and less melanin to protect them so they’re more susceptible to the dangers of UV. Experiencing bad sunburn frequently in childhood leads to higher risks of melanoma in adulthood.

Here are some things to remember for ourselves and our kids over the coming weeks and months as we hopefully experience warmer and sunnier weather.

Plan Ahead

Keeping sunscreen to hand at all times; in cars, handbags and changing bags to make sure that unexpected sun exposure can be mitigated. Other approaches to protection include staying in the shade, and wearing clothes, hats and sunglasses to cover the skin. Staying hydrated is also important to avoid dehydration. Daily SPF on exposed skin is the best practice, with high UV protection.

Watch for the pink

Burn doesn’t show up properly for up to 12 hours. So skin that’s turning a little pink is a sign that you’re on the road to burn by that night. Getting out of the sun as soon as you notice this is really important, as it only takes 15 minutes for the damage to be done.

Clouds are not enough

We all need protection even in cloudy conditions or when temperatures feel lower. UV rays travel through clouds, and are only slightly filtered, and we still need protection. Their damage is not dictated by temperature either, so don’t be fooled!

Ditch the tan

Whilst we associate a “glow” with being healthy and active, real tan is actually a sign of damaged skin, which we should be doing our best to avoid. This feels contrary to what many of us grew up with, but a mindset shift that is really needed, and a replacement with bottled tan instead.

Although the sun has been very welcome these past weeks, and is good for our mood and mental health, awareness of the risks of UV exposure is important to prevent melanoma. Knowledge of what to watch for on our skin will lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.