Who gets skin cancer?
People of all colors and races in cosmopolitan Singapore can get skin cancer. Those with light skin who sunburn easily have a higher risk. Risk factors include: sunburns, family history of skin cancer, exposure to x-rays, weakened immune system, scarring caused by a disease or burn, and exposure to cancer-causing compounds such as arsenic. Using indoor tanning devices such as tanning beds and sunlamps also increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
What does skin cancer look like?
There are different types of skin cancer, and each tends to look a bit different.
- Actinic Keratoses
- Atypical Moles
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Malignant Melanoma (MM)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Is skin cancer check important?
With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for BCC and SCC is about 95 percent. When melanoma is detected before it spreads, it also has a high cure rate. Regular skin exams help people find early skin cancers.
One type of skin exam is the skin self-exam. During a self-exam, people examine their own skin for signs of change. If a growth, mole, sore, or skin discoloration appears suddenly, or begins to change, see a dermatologist.
People who have spent time in the sun, have a family history of skin cancer (especially melanoma), have many moles or atypical moles, or have other risk factors for skin cancer should see your dermatologist for regular skin check. Some people should have this exam once a year. Others need more frequent exams. Your dermatologist will recommend the frequency that is best for you.
If during the skin exam, your dermatologist sees a potential skin cancer, he will remove the growth (or part of it) so that it can be examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. Your dermatologist can safely and quickly perform this procedure during an office visit.
If the biopsy report confirms that the suspicious growth is skin cancer, more treatment may be needed. When caught early and the entire growth is removed, sometimes further treatment is not needed. If further treatment is needed, your dermatologist will choose from an array of medical and surgical treatments for skin cancer. Treatment varies with the type of skin cancer, the size and location of the skin cancer, and the needs of the patient.