Public Health Sudbury & Districts

Skin cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. If found early, the chances of surviving it are very good.

Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma) is on the rise and is currently the most common cancer in Canada, accounting for nearly the same number of new cancer cases as the 4 major cancers combined (lung, breast, colorectal, prostate)¹. Specific cancer statistics for non-melanoma skin cancer are not available. Most cancer registries in Canada do not collect information about non melanoma skin cancers.

There are 3 main types of skin cancer labelled according to the cell type from which they develop.

squamous cell carcinoma (Canadian Dermatology Association)

basal cell carcinoma (Canadian Dermatology Association)

malignant melanoma (Canadian Dermatology Association)

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Causes of skin cancer

The greatest risk factor for the 3 main forms of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The most important source of UV radiation is the sun. Exposure to artificial sources of UV radiation is mainly through the use of tanning equipment. It is also possible to be exposed to non-solar sources of UV radiation as a part of certain medical treatments or at work (for example, welding arcs).

UV radiation causes about 90% of melanoma cases.

Know your risks

Visit My CancerIQ (Cancer Care Ontario) in order to determine your risks of developing skin cancer.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but you have a greater risk if you have:

fair, sun-sensitive skin that burns rather than tans
freckles
red or blond hair
many moles
moles which are large or unusual in colour or shape
a close family history of skin cancer or a personal history of skin cancer
had excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun
used artificial tanning equipment (sunbeds)
a history of severe sunburns

People with no risk factors, and those with darker skin, can also get skin cancer.

Check your skin for signs of skin cancer

53% of melanomas are found by the patients themselves and another 17% by their family members.
Checking your skin and starting treatment early can lead to a 90% cure rate.
A skin self-exam (Canadian Dermatology Association) is simple and takes only 10 or 15 minutes once per month.

When you’re looking for skin changes, think A.B.C.D.E.

A: asymmetry (one side looks different than the other)
B: border (the edge is irregular)
C: colour (there are colour differences in the lesion or spot: brown, black, red, grey, or white)
D: diameter (the lesion or spot is getting bigger)
E: evolution (changes in colour, size, shape, or symptoms such as itching, bleeding or tenderness)

Download and print the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Melanoma Skin Cancer Know the Signs, Save a Life poster (PDF) to learn more about skin screening and the A.B.C.D.E.‘s of melanoma.

The best way to detect and prevent melanoma (video)

References:

Sources:

Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2019. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-101/canadian-cancer-statistics/past-editions-canadian-cancer-statistics/?region=on on July 24, 2020.
Canadian Dermatology Association (2020). Skin Conditions. Retrieved from https://dermatology.ca/public-patients/skin/skin-conditions/ on July 24, 2020.
Canadian Cancer Society (2020). What is melanoma skin cancer? Retrieved from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/skin-melanoma/melanoma/?region=on on July 24, 2020.
Canadian Cancer Society (2020). What is non-melanoma skin cancer? Retrieved from https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/skin-non-melanoma/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/?region=on on July 24, 2020.
Government of Canada (2018). Skin cancer. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/sun-safety/skin-cancer.html on July 24, 2020.

This item was last modified on August 28, 2020