Skin Cancer screening

Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK.  Around 16,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year.

More than 1 in 4 skin cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, which is usually early compared with most other types of cancer

Currently, there is no approved early detection method for screening for skin cancer.

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. There are various different types of skin cancer, some of which are more serious than others.

At The London General Practice, screening protocols involve a thorough examination of your skin and onward referral if required.

Types of Skin Cancer

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Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer

These cancers are often found in areas exposed to the sun such as the head, neck, and arms but they can develop elsewhere. They are very common but are usually very treatable.

Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are the most common type skin cancer. They start in the top layer of skin, the epidermis and are often related to sun exposure.

Squamous cells:

These are flat cells in the upper outer part of the epidermis, which are constantly shed as new ones form. When these cells grow out of control, they can develop into squamous cell skin cancer.

Basal cells:

These cells are in the lower part of the epidermis called the basal cell layer. These cells constantly form new cells to replace the squamous cells that wear off the skin surface. As these cells move up to the epidermis, they get flatter, eventually becoming squamous cells. Skin cancers that start from the basal cell layer are called basal cell skin cancers.

Melanocytes:

These are cells with brown pigment called melanin, which gives skin its tan or brown colour. Melanin acts as the body’s natural sunscreen, protecting the deeper layers of the skin from some of the harmful effects of the sun. Melanoma skin cancer starts in these cells.

The epidermis is separated from the deeper layers of the skin by the basement membrane. When the skin cancer becomes more advanced, it generally grows though the barrier and into the deeper layers.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. About eight out of ten skins cancers are basal cell carcinomas.

These cancers start in the basal cell layer. It is the lower part of the epidermis.

These cancers usually develop on sun-exposed areas, especially the face, head and neck. They tend to grow slowly.

It is very rare for a basal cell cancer to spread to other parts of the body. If it is left untreated, basal cell cancer can grow into nearby areas and invade the bone or other tissues beyond the skin.

If not removed completely, basal cell carcinoma can come back recur in the same place on the skin.

People who have had basal cell skin cancer are also more likely to get new ones in other places.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

About two out of ten skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers start in the flat cells in the upper outer part of the epidermis.

These cancers commonly appear on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips and back of the hands. They can also develop in scars or chronic skin sores elsewhere.

They sometimes start in actinic keratoses, less often, they form on the skin of the genital area.

Squamous cell cancers can usually be removed completely although they are more likely the basal cell cancers to go into deeper layers of skin and spread to other parts of the body.

Precancerous and Other Skin Conditions

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Actinic Keratosis (solar keratosis)

These are precancerous skin conditions caused by too much exposure to the sun. They are usually small, less than a quarter of an inch across, rough or scaly spots that may be pink, red or flesh coloured. Usually they start on the face, ears, backs of the hands and also the legs for older people with fair skin, although they can occur in out of sun exposed areas. People who have them usually develop more than one.

Solar keratoses tend to grow slowly and usually do not cause any symptoms (although some are likely to be itchy or sore). They sometimes go on their own, but they can come back.

A small percentage of them turn into squamous cell skin cancers. Most do not become cancer, but it can be hard sometimes to tell them apart from true skin cancers, so on the whole, they are recommended to be treated.

If they are not treated then they should be checked regularly for changes and likely signs of skin cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ - Bowen’s Disease

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ, also called Bowen’s disease, is the earliest form of squamous cell skin cancer. In situ means that the cells of these cancers are still only in the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin and have not invaded into deeper layers.

Bowen’s disease appears as reddish patches. Compared with solar keratoses, Bowen’s disease patches tend to be larger, redder, scalier and sometimes crusted. Like solar keratoses Bowen’s, disease usually does not cause symptoms, although likely itchy or sore.

Like most other skin cancers, these cancers often appear in sun-exposed areas. They can also occur in the skin of the anal and genital area. This is often related to sexually transmitted infection with HPV, the virus that can also cause genital warts.

Bowen’s disease can sometimes progress to an invasive squamous cell skin cancer, so it is recommended to treat them.

If you have these, you are also at higher risk for other skin cancers so a regular skin check is recommended.

Keratoacanthoma

These are dome-shaped tumours that are found on sun-exposed skin. They may start out growing quickly, but their growth usually slows down. They may shrink or even go away on their own over time without any treatment, but some continue to grow and a few may even spread to the other parts of the body. They can be hard to tell from squamous skin cancer and their growth is often hard to predict.

Melanoma

The most important warning sign of a melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape or colour, also if it looks different from all of the other spots on your skin. This requires for you to be checked.

How to Identify Skin Cancer

A useful way of reviewing skin lesions is to use the ABCDE rule:

A is for asymmetry, one half of the mole that does not match the other
B is for border. The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
C is for colour. The colour is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black or sometimes there are patches of pink, red, white or blue.
D is for diameter. The spot is larger than 6 mm across although melanoma can sometimes be smaller than this.
E is for evolving. The mole is changing in size, shape or colour.

Other warning signs can include:

  • A sore that does not heal.
  • Spread of pigmentation in the border of the spot into surrounding skin.
  • Redness or any swelling beyond the border of the mole.
  • Change in sensation such as itchiness, tenderness or pain.
  • Change in the surface of the mole, scaling, oozing, bleeding or the appearance of a lump or bump.

Although usually in sun-exposed areas, some melanomas start in places other than the skin such as under a fingernail or toenail, inside the mouth or even in the coloured part of the eye, so it is important to show any new spots and these will all be reviewed at the screening medical.

skin cancer screening london

Several risk factors can make one more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer:

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Ultraviolet Light Exposure

The pattern and timing of the UV exposure may play a role in melanoma development. For example, melanoma on the trunk and legs has been linked to frequent sunburns, especially in childhood. This might be related to the fact that these areas are not constantly exposed to UV light.

Some evidence suggests that melanomas that start in these areas are different than those that start on the face, neck and arms, where the sun exposure is not constant.

Also different from either of these are melanomas in the palms of the hands, soles of the foot, or underneath the nails or on the internal surfaces such as the mouth and the vagina.

Having many moles does not cause problems but someone who has many moles is more likely to develop melanoma. This can be because of dysplastic naevi. These are moles, which look like normal moles but also have some features of melanoma. They are often larger than other moles and have a normal shape or colour. Dysplastic naevi can run in families. A small percentage of dysplastic naevi may develop into melanomas. Most dysplastic naevi never become cancer and many melanomas appear to arise without a pre-existing dysplastic naevus.

Dysplastic Naevus Syndrome

Atypical naevus syndrome is an inherited condition where you have many dysplastic naevi.

If at least one close relative has had a melanoma, this condition is referred to as familial atypical multiple mole and melanoma syndrome.

People with this condition have a very high lifetime risk of melanoma, so a regular thorough check is important. We sometimes suggest mole mapping in this situation.

Genital melanocystic naevi moles present at birth have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma of between 0 and 5% depending on their size. If you have a very large congenital naevi then there is a higher risk and the risk is lower for smaller.

Fair skinned, freckling and light hair

This results in a higher risk of melanoma for those who are white than for black races. White people with red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes or fair skin, that freckle or burn easily are at an increased risk of developing melanoma.

Family history of melanoma

The risk of developing melanoma is higher if one or more of your first degree relatives has had melanoma.

Around 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history.

This can be related to the fact that there is a shared family lifestyle of frequent sun exposure, a family tendency to have fair skin but certain gene changes that run in families or a combination of the BRCA1 and 2 gene.

Personal history of melanoma or skin cancers

A person who has already had melanoma has a higher risk of getting melanoma again.

People who have had basal or squamous cell skin cancers are also at increased risk of getting melanoma.

Weakened immune system

A person’s immune system helps fight cancer of the skin and other organs. People with weakened immune systems and certain diseases or medical treatments are more likely to develop any types of skin cancer including melanoma, for example kidney transplants, patients are getting medicines that weaken their immune system to prevent them from rejecting the organ.

Age

Melanoma is more likely to occur in older people but it is also found in younger people.

Sex

Men appear to have a higher rate of melanoma than women although this varies by age.

Before the age of 50, this is higher in women.

After the age of 50, it is higher in men.

Xeroderma pigmentosum

This is a rare inherited condition that affects the skin cells’ ability to repair damage to their DNA. People with this condition have a higher risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers when young especially on sun-exposed areas of their skin.

How Is Melanoma Found Early?
The Importance of Skin Cancer Screening

Skin self-examination and our screening medical includes a full skin check.

Any concerning lesions are reviewed by video with a dermatologist and if required, referral is made.

At the London General Practice we screen for cancers individually or as part of one of our comprehensive health screens. Our genetic testing cancer panel can also help you understand if you have an increased genetic risk of developing any one of 57 hereditary cancer conditions.

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Phone: 020 7935 1000
Email: info@thelondongeneralpractice.com

The London General Practice offers a number of screening services. To find out more about all screening services available at The London General Practice click below.

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