Skin Cancer Rates are Rising; Take Care of Your Skin

You all know how evangelical we are about sun damage and suitable sun protection. Our insistence on avoiding sun damage is for good reason. Yes, sun damage is incredibly ageing – but it can also be life-threatening. The right sun protection is essential – for everybody. No matter if you ‘feel healthier with a tan.’ It’s irrelevant if you believe ‘real blokes don’t use suncream.’ And surely nobody still believes ‘you have to burn to get a tan’? Yet skin cancer rates are still on the rise.

Cancer Research UK tells it straight: “Sun damage is the cause of most skin cancers.” This isn’t about vanity, this is taking care of your health, your well-being, and potentially your life. The skin cells of the outer layer of skin – the epidermis – tend to suffer most sun damage. Risk factors vary according to skin type and age – but everyone is at risk. Reggae legend Bob Marley’s untimely death was due to skin cancer.

Types of Skin Cancer:

Malignant Melanoma

Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. Malignant Melanoma is perhaps the skin cancer that most people have heard of, and was also the type of skin cancer which killed Bob Marley. Melanoma skin cancer starts in melanocyte skin cells which form the deeper layers of the epidermis and produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment which gives skin its colour and is produced upon skin’s exposure to the sun, hence the all-too-sought-after suntan.

Sunburn is caused by the sun’s UV rays and is indicative of skin cell damage. Over time, that damage can cause cells to grow uncontrollably and cause skin cancer. Melanomas can also develop in existing moles.

Causes of Melanoma

Again, Cancer Research UK pulls no punches: “Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds is the main environmental factor that increases the risk of developing melanoma.” Other risk factors include:

• Skin which is pale and freckly
• Fair or red hair and light eye colour
• Considerable number of moles
• Family history of melanoma

Nearly 17,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed every year in the UK alone. This number has continued to increase over the last few decades, possibly due to more foreign and exotic travel to the sun.

Melanoma can and does spread. Every year, more than two thousand people die from Melanoma. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are critical. Know your skin and know what to look for – changing or growing moles are not the only sign. The NHS has some helpful information.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cells are a sort of keratinocyte cells located at the deepest level of the epidermis. The basal layer is where all normal skin cells are found, and it’s where basal cell skin cancer grows. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most frequently occurring skin cancer, which usually develops in exposed parts of the skin, including the head and forehead, the face (especially the nose), ears, and neck. It’s no coincidence that these are the areas where sun damage is most common.

There are different sorts of BCC, which may look and develop differently, including:

• Nodular basal cell skin cancer
• Superficial basal cell skin cancer
• Morphoeic basal cell skin cancer
• Pigmented basal cell skin cancer

Basal cell skin cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body – or metastasises – to form secondary cancer, though it’s not unheard of to have more than one basal cell cancer at a time. Having had one BCC increases the risk of getting another.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The uppermost layers of the skin are formed from cells that have died and risen from the basal layer. These are keratinocytes; they’re filled with keratin, a fibrous protein which gives skin its strength. Squamous cell skin cancer develops in these cells.

SCC tends to be faster growing than basal cell cancers, and they account for about 20% of all skin cancers. Again, Squamous Cell Carcinomas usually occur in areas of skin exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, and back of hands and forearms. However, they can also occur on scars. They don’t commonly spread.

Other Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers

There are other, rarer types of non-melanoma skin cancer, including:

• Merkel cell carcinoma
• Kaposi’s sarcoma
• T cell lymphoma of the skin
• Sebaceous gland cancer
• Bowen’s Disease

Each is treated differently from basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Treatments may include surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.

Skin Cancer: Early Detection Saves Lives

Many skin cancers are preventable, and most are treatable when caught early. It’s vital to get to know YOUR body and YOUR skin – and this applies to many other forms of cancer, too. Learn what is normal for you, check regularly, and be aware of any changes or new developments. This level of awareness has contributed to ever-improving cancer survival rates.

We’ve partnered with specialists Screencancer UK to offer a dedicated – and, crucially, rapid – screening service for moles or blemishes which cause concern. This early warning and referral can speed up any necessary treatment. The scans take just minutes, and results are back in days – often the very next day. As well as expediting referral and, where necessary, potentially life-saving treatment, this is perfect for peace of mind.

Mole Screening with Screencancer UK – a Case Study

Football coach Joe of SK Football Coaching testifies:

SPF? But it’s Not Hot!

“As a football coach, I’m out in the sun a lot. Like a lot of blokes, I’ve neglected skin care of any description and was firmly of the belief that sun cream was only for beach holidays or scorching days. I know better now! I had a couple of moles on my head, one of which has always been there. However, I noticed they were bigger and angrier than before. Both looked inflamed; one even seemed to have scabbed over. I got through to the GP and was asked to send photos, which I did immediately. I was then given a GP appointment. However, not only was it three WEEKS away, but it was also a telephone appointment. Worse, I was informed that the 2-week cancer pathway was ‘currently running at 6-8 weeks’ due to the incredible backlog and pressures caused by the Covid response.

Get Checked. Fast

Bloke or no bloke, I don’t mind admitting that I was terrified. Really, really terrified. I really thought I had skin cancer, so I knew that acting fast was the only option. Following a recommendation, I contacted AL Medical Wellness and was booked in the next day. The scan was quick, easy and absolutely painless. Lyndsey explained everything and noticed another suspicious mole, so we scanned that one, too. Clinical assessment and dermatoscopy photography done and dusted, and the scans were sent for dermatologist assessment. Lyndsey told me the results would be two or three days. That’d still be quicker than waiting for a telephone appointment.

Joe of SKFC, thankfully avoiding the sun

The next morning, I had a phone call saying all was well and there was no cause for concern. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve EVER been so relieved. I could’ve cried; I didn’t, fortunately, as I was coaching at our holiday camp, but I could have. You can’t put a price on peace of mind – and you certainly can’t put a price on getting any necessary treatment as quickly as possible.”

Men’s Skin Concerns Matter Too

Although skin cancer can affect anybody, traditionally, men aren’t overly careful in the sun or diligent about skincare. Fortunately, that’s changing, and we’ll talk more about this in a future blog.

Everybody needs to look after their skin and look after their health. We are here to help and, as in Joe’s case, to hopefully speed things up a little and thankfully bring peace of mind. Now Joe knows precisely why we’re so evangelical about sun protection – he won’t be neglecting his ever again. We suggest you’re as diligent as he now is.