What are the types of skin cancers?

There are three main types of skin cancers namely Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) and Melanomas.

Basal Cell Carcinomas

These are the commonest skin cancers and are usually slow growing. They often look like a red spot or pimple, which does not heal. They may also bleed.

They can be treated by:

1. Surgery
2. Curettage and diathermy
3. Cryotherapy
4. Cream ( mainly superficial BCC)
5. Photodynamic Therapy

Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC)

These often look like scaly red lesions which may be thickened.  They can grow quickly and are often painful. They can spread and invade through the skin.

SCC are usually treated by surgical removal.

Melanoma

This is the most serious type of Skin cancer and can be fatal. It may look like

1. Brown/black/red lesion which has irregular colour arrangement and irregular border.
2. Brown, black or red lump in the skin, which has grown quickly.

The prognosis depends on the stage of growth and how quickly it is picked up. Early lesions that are thin have an excellent prognosis, while deeper lesions can spread quickly and lead to death.

The treatment of melanoma is surgery. The extent of the surgery depends on the depth of the lesion.
Regular follow up after treatment is essential.

What about sun spots and keratoses?

Sun spots and keratoses are pink scaly lesions, which in some cases may turn into Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

They can be treated by:

1. Liquid Nitrogen
2. Creams
3. Photodynamic Therapy