Types of skin cancer and checking your moles

Skin cancer is usually split into two categories – melanoma and non-melanoma. With basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) coming under the non-melanoma category.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 156,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the UK each year. And since the early 90s, non-melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by more than 169%.¹

For melanoma skin cancer, there around 17,500 new cases a year in the UK.²

Mags Beal, Cancer Care clinical operations manager, explores the causes and risks of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, as well as how to check your moles.

What is the difference between melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer?

Melanoma is the type of skin cancer that often develops from a mole. This can be a mole that is already on your skin or a new mole or lesion that has recently appeared.³ It can start anywhere on the skin but involves abnormal cells growing and dividing in an uncontrolled way.

Whereas non-melanoma skin cancer is mainly caused by sun damage to cells in the epidermis. The skin is made up of two main layers: the epidermis on the outside and the dermis beneath.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) develops in the areas most exposed to the sun: head, face, ears and neck and occurs in the cells found at the bottom of the epidermis, where all normal skin cells come from.

Squamous cell skin cancer (SCC) also develops in cells in the epidermis, but SCC occurs in the cell layer just above the basal layer.

Melanoma develops in cells in the deeper layers of the epidermis.

Main cause of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and comes from the sun but is also used in sunbeds⁴. In the case of being out in the sun, there are however precautions you can take to minimise your risk of skin cancer - read our Top tips for sun protection.

Some people, however, are more at risk of getting melanoma cancer than others, for example if you have:

• pale skin that burns easily in the sun,
• red or fair hair,
• blue or green eyes,
• a large number of freckles or moles,
• had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past,
• used sunbeds a lot,
• a history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before.⁴

In the UK, around 85 out of 100 melanomas are caused by too much UV light.⁵

Moles and melanoma

Moles are clusters of cells that produce a pigment in the skin and it is normal to have them. Melanomas develop when those cells behave abnormally and invade the skin around moles or spread to other areas, such as the lymph nodes, liver and lungs.

Some of us have more moles than others. The more moles on the body, the higher the risk of melanoma. That doesn’t mean that someone will definitely get melanoma if they have lots of moles.

However, it does mean that those people should be more careful about exposure to the sun, and certainly keep a watchful eye on all their moles.

What are the warning signs?

It’s important to keep a look out for things that may be signs of something more serious than an innocent mole, particularly if they have changed in shape, colour or sensation. All melanomas do not look the same and there are several different types.

Follow the ‘ABCDE’ rule below as a melanoma may show one or more of the following features:

A – asymmetry (an irregular shaped mole)

B – borders (ragged edges)

C – colour change or a mole that is a different colour in one part than in another

D – diameter (any increase in size, but particularly more than about 6mm across)

E – elevation (raising from the surface, especially if it is irregularly raised)

Melanomas can appear on any part of the skin but they are most common in men on the trunk, and in women on the legs.

Who is at risk?

High risk groups include those with fair skin who burn easily, people with lots of moles, those with a family history of melanomas, and those with red or blonde hair.⁶

How are melanomas treated?

There are a number of factors that a specialist will consider when they plan treatment. The main factor is how deeply the melanoma has grown into the skin, and whether it has spread (the stage).

Surgery is the main treatment for people with early melanoma. If the cancer has spread (advanced melanoma), then treatment may involve biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

What’s the best way to protect yourself?

It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage, and there are several ways that can help reduce your risk:

• Cover up with a hat, clothes and UV protective glasses
• Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and a minimum UVA star rating of four

>Read more on how to help protect yourself from sun damage

If you do receive a cancer diagnosis, the news can feel overwhelming and you’ll have a lot of questions. Explore our cancer care articles for more information. If you're a member with AXA Health, here's more information on dedicated cancer support you may have access to.

References

1. Non-melanoma skin cancer statistics – Cancer Research UK
2. Melanoma skin cancer statistics – Cancer Research UK
3. Types of skin cancer – Cancer Research UK
4. Causes of non-melanoma skin cancer – NHS
5. Ultraviolet (UV) light – Cancer Research UK
6. Skin cancer (melanoma) – NHS Inform