Page 470 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 197

S Martin - 1 July 2010

Sun Induced Skin Cancer

At this time of the year, we all enjoy the sun, but need to be acutely aware of the effect it
can have on our skin. Over exposure to the sun is the biggest cause of skin cancer, one
of the most common cancers in the UK; there are two main types, malignant melanoma
of the skin and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and they are extremely common.

Malignant Melanoma is the most serious type. It usually develops in the cells in the
outer layers of skin but can spread to other parts of the body and may be fatal.
Melanoma may start with a change in a pre existing mole or freckle or previously
normal skin.

Non Melanoma is the most common and easily treated type of cancer, more than 90% of
cancers are this type. This type has 2 forms which are Basal and Squamous.

In 2007, over 84,500 non melanoma skin cancer cases were registered in the UK but
because many go unreported, the exact number is probably much higher. The number of
cases has doubled in the last 20 years.

Basal Cell is the most common and tends to affect older people. It usually starts with a
small round or flattened lump that can be red, pale or pearly in colour, sometimes it
appears as a scaly eczema like patch on the skin, they usually but not always appear on
the areas of skin most exposed such as head, neck, shoulders and limbs.

Squamous Cell is the more serious as it can spread to other parts of the body if left
untreated. It appears as a persistent red scaly spots or lumps, sores or ulcers which may
bleed easily. They usually affect older people with a lifetime of heavy sun exposure and
those who constantly work outside exposed to the elements, they occur most often on the
head, neck, hands and forearms.

Just because we live in the UK it doesn’t mean we can’t get it, in fact there are more
skin cancer deaths in the UK than in Australia even though Australia has more reported
cases of the disease. Just because in this country we don’t have sunny weather 365 days
a year doesn’t mean we are immune, in fact because sunny days are quite rare, people
tend to sunbathe for long periods which causes extreme damage and can induce
melanomas.