What Is a skin cancer?
By definition, a cancer is a lesion or collection of abnormal cells that continually grow and enlarge and usually destroy the normal tissue around them. There are 3 main types of skin cancers and a number of other rare ones. Some are more dangerous than others. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, largely because our climate is very sunny and a large proportion of our population have fair skin.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma
BCC is by far the most common skin cancer, and thankfully it is usually the least dangerous. It is exceedingly rare for a BCC to spread from its original location. However, it is often not noticed in its early stages. It also has a predilection for the face and can cause significant cosmetic problems.
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
SCC is the 2nd most common skin cancer. It usually occurs in areas that are significantly sun-damaged and usually has the appearance of a non-healing sore.
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Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious of the common skin cancers. Approximately 1 in 20 Australians develop a melanoma. They usually appear as a flat irregular brown lesion. It is crucial that they are detected and treated early.
