It’s no surprise that Australia holds the title of the world’s skin cancer capital, with statistics saying about two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.
Being the third most commonly diagnosed cancer form in Australia, skin cancer is more than just protection with SPF. Considering it may take months, perhaps years for the sun damage to develop into skin cancer, it is recommended to get ahead and go for regular skin cancer checks.
As the hot summer days are about to kick in, it is the ideal time to look for spots of concern and schedule your skin cancer check appointment.
What causes skin cancer?
The most basic reason for developing skin cancer is prolonged exposure to UV rays. In numbers, exposure to harmful UV radiation is responsible for causing up to 90% of melanoma cases globally.
Also, in theory, tanning, which is widely popular, is not a healthy practice too. Tanning which is a sign of skin being highly exposed to the sun, will eventually cause wrinkles and discolouration will increase your risk of skin cancer.
A lot of people also believes that putting fake tan can provide them protection against skin cancer. But in fact, it puts them at higher risk of developing skin cancer.
What to look for? The ABCDE guide to spotting skin cancer
A for Symmetry
Moles will generally grow in all directions, but when you’ve melanoma, it starts appearing and spreading unevenly in all directions.
So, when you draw a line in the spot in the middle, and unsymmetrical spot can be a sign of skin cancer.
B for Border
A notched spot with an irregular edge is a sign of concern. When you see other spots in your skin, you’ll be able to see that they appear in a certain way. The edges will look sharp and similar. But, when the cells are cancerous, it appears ragged and uneven, causing them to look more like the roots of a tree.
C for Colour
A spot with different colour can suggest skin cancer. The ‘melanin,’ that defines your skin tone appears to look different depending on where it is in the depth of your skin. So, when a botched spot appears different in color, it means the melanin is somewhere it shouldn’t be.
D is for Diameter
A constant change in the diameter of a spot, especially if that happens over a period of weeks or months, can be a sign of skin cancer.
E for Evolving
A spot that is changing and growing can be a sign of skin cancer too.
Skin cancer check with Solitaire Medical Group
At our skin cancer clinic, we’ve fully trained skin cancer doctors available for online booking.
For making a booking for cancer check, click book online below.