Assessing Your Risk For Skin Cancer: Causes And Symptoms

Skin cancer is amongst the top ten most common cancers in Singapore, with non-melanoma skin cancer being the sixth most common cancer for males and seventh most common cancer for females¹. Yet, it is also one of the cancers with the highest survival rate, where the five-year age-standardised relative survival rate is 95.5 per cent and 98.5 per cent, respectively, for men and women¹.

The key to optimising one’s survival rate is in early detection and removal of the cancer growth. To do that, recognising one’s risk and learning to identify signs of skin cancer is crucial.

Risk factors

A person may have an increased risk for skin cancer due to genetics or exposure to certain environmental triggers.

One genetic factor is the amount of melanin in one’s skin, which relates to how fair or dark their skin looks. Fair-skinned individuals have less melanin – the pigment in skin that protects one from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This explains why fair-skinned people are at a higher risk of getting skin cancer. However, it is also possible for dark-skinned people to get skin cancer².

The main external factor contributing to skin cancer development is UV radiation, a known human carcinogen³. The leading cause is UV from the sun, seeing that 90 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun⁴. Indoor tanning is also a big contributor to increasing one’s risk of skin cancer, as people who do indoor tanning are at 69 per cent more risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by age 40⁵.

In summary, you may be at a higher risk of skin cancer if you:

Have a light skin tone.
Prone to sunburns.
Have a family history of skin cancer.
Prone to developing new moles.
Are on long-term immunosuppressants.
Have long-term exposure to ionising radiation.
Have long-term exposure to substances like pesticides and tar.
Have excessive exposure to UV light, such as from tanning beds and sunlamps.

Symptoms of skin cancer

The symptoms of skin cancer differ based on the type of skin cancer.

1. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, making up about 60 per cent of all skin cancers. Symptoms are usually found on sun-exposed areas of the body like the neck and face, and may include:

Flesh-coloured, waxy bump.
Scar-like lesion.
Reddish scar.
Bleeding or scabbing sore that comes and goes.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

SCC typically occurs on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the hands, face, and ears. Symptoms of SCC include:

Red, scaly bumps.
Flat lesion with scaly or crusty surface.
Signs of sun-induced damage surrounding the bump or lesion.

3. Melanoma

Melanoma, one of the most dangerous of skin cancers, can occur anywhere on the body. In fact, it is common for melanoma to develop even in less sun-exposed areas such as the trunk and lower limbs⁶. Some symptoms include:

Relatively large, irregularly shaped brownish patch.
An existing mole or birthmark that has evolved in appearance.
Irregular colouration on the patch, including spots that are black, blue, pink or red.

What to do if you notice a suspicious growth

While it might be hard to remember the specific symptoms for each type of skin cancer, being vigilant about any changes or new growths on your skin is a good way to be on guard against skin cancer.

For suspicious growths, lesions, or moles that have changed in appearance, it is important that you get a skin cancer screening. You can consult a certified dermatologist for skin cancer screening in Singapore. Your doctor can do a mole check for you, which usually includes a physical examination and a skin biopsy if there are any suspicious growths.

Some low-risk skin cancers may be removed entirely during the biopsy. If not, other treatment methods, such as cryotherapy, laser therapy, or excision surgery, may be used depending on the severity of the cancer.

Conclusion

A strong defence against skin cancer includes understanding your risks, avoiding high-risk activities where possible, and keeping a watchful eye on your own skin and any changes to it. At any point in time, if you suspect you may have skin cancer, visiting a dermatology clinic should be a top priority. This is because the chance of full removal and recovery is higher when the cancer is at its early stages.

Here at Angeline Yong Dermatology, we provide comprehensive services related to skin health, including medical and cosmetic treatments. Visit us today for a consultation with MOH-accredited dermatologist Dr Yong to gain a better understanding of your skin’s health.

References

Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2020. (2022). National Registry Of Diseases Office (NRDO). Retrieved on 11 April, 2023, from https://nrdo.gov.sg/

Skin cancer. HealthXchange. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.healthxchange.sg/cancer/skin-cancer/skin-cancer-types-symptoms

NTP (National Toxicology Program). (2021). Report on Carcinogens, Fifteenth Edition. Research Triangle Park, NC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22427/NTP-OTHER-1003

Koh, H. K., Geller, A. C., Miller, D. R., Grossbart, T. A., & Lew, R. A. (1996). Prevention and early detection strategies for melanoma and skin cancer: Current status. Archives of Dermatology, 132(4), 436–443. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.132.4.436

Ferrucci, L. M., Cartmel, B., Molinaro, A. M., Leffell, D. J., Bale, A. E., & Mayne, S. T. (2012). Indoor tanning and risk of early-onset basal cell carcinoma. Cancer Research, 72(8), 635–635. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-635

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, December 6). Skin cancer. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20377605

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Assessing Your Risk For Skin Cancer: Causes And Symptoms