The 3 Types of Skin Cancer You Should Know About

When skin cancer is mentioned our mind’s jump to Melanoma skin cancer! There are actually two other types skin cancer that are far more common than melanomas, although less dangerous. It’s easy to be none the wiser of the other two as melanomas dominate the media and are always in the spotlight of skin cancer awareness campaigns, for good reason as 350 people die from melanoma per year in New Zealand.

The 2 lesser known types of skin cancers are Basal Cell Carcinoma (abbreviated as BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (abbreviated as SCC). These skin cancers are referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers.

Fortunately, they are less dangerous and less aggressive than melanomas which is why they get less attention from the media and why there is a general lack of education and awareness.

Skin cancers are often perceived as ‘moles’ which is true for melanomas but not for the other two. BCCs and SCCs have very different characteristics and features to melanomas which means they don’t look like a typical mole. This introduces the term ‘lesion’ which allows us to speak more generally about different things that can be found on the skin – these can include moles, freckles, sun damage and more.

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers

Basal Cell Carcinoma & Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Let’s start with the more common types of skin cancers, BBCs and SCCs, affecting an estimated 80,000 people per year in New Zealand.

Who is more at risk of developing a BCC or SCC?

People who have had continuous and long term sun exposure either at work or in leisure time
History of sunburn, particularly in younger years
Suppressed or weak immune system
People who use indoor tanning systems
Fair skin, blonde or red hair, blue eyes and freckles have a higher risk
Typically over the age of 50 although they can be found in younger people as well

Unfortunately skin cancers do not discriminate based on the factors mentioned above. Anyone can get skin cancer. This list just shows who may be at higher risk.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Overview of BCC

Considered lower risk than melanomas and SCCs
Slower to spread
Easier to treat or remove in most cases
Occur mainly on sun damaged skin
Common on the scalp, neck, face, shoulders, arms and backs of hands but can be found on other parts of the body

Common signs of BCC

Considered lower risk than melanomas and SCCs
Slower to spread
Easier to treat or remove in most cases
Occur mainly on sun damaged skin
Common on the scalp, neck, face, shoulders, arms and backs of hands but can be found on other parts of the body

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Overview of SCC

Considered medium risk (Higher than BCC, lower than melanoma)
Usually not life threatening
Can be aggressive and must be treated to stop spreading to other parts of the body
Occur mainly on sun damaged skin
Common on scalp, ears, lips and backs of hands but can be found on other parts of the body

Common signs of SCC

Scaly red patches of skin
Can appear wart like
Open sores that don’t heal
Elevated growth with central depression
May crust or bleed
Sometimes tender or sore

Images courtesy of DermNet NZ (For educational purposes)

Melanoma Skin Cancer

Melanomas are the most dangerous and life threatening type of skin cancer, especially in New Zealand. Melanomas can develop very quickly and can be very aggressive. Unfortunately, over 350 people die from Melanoma each year in New Zealand.

A particularly dangerous characteristic of melanomas is that they can occur anywhere on the body – not just where sun exposure has occurred. This means they can occur in places that aren’t expected like on the nail beds, between toes, soles of feet, etc. They can be found anywhere on the body.

Overview of Melanoma

High risk but less common than BCCs and SCCs
Most aggressive and life threatening if not detected early and treated.
Early detection = better prognosis (outcome)
High tendency to spread to other parts of the body
Can occur anywhere on the body – not just where there has been sun exposure

Common signs of Melanoma

The ABC’s are a generalized guideline for the public to help indicate whether a mole is likely to be a melanoma. Although a good starting point, it is recommended that a professional skin check is done to check the lesion of concern as well as getting other lesions checked.

It is important to note that a melanoma doesn’t need to meet all of the criteria of the ABCs.

The ABC's of Melanoma

A = Asymmetry – A lack of symmetry on the mole
B = Border irregularity
C = Colour, multiple colours such as black, brown, blue, gray, pink, red, white
D = Diameter of larger than 5mm or Different from other moles
E = Evolving /changing
G = Growing
F = Firm to touch

At Skinspect, our lead dermoscopist, Tracey Zeelie, has over 20 years experience in identifying different types of skin cancers and other suspicious skin lesions.
We make the process of getting your moles checked easy with a full body skin check. You can expect any moles and other lesions to be checked from your head to soles of your feet by a qualified dermoscopist who will make you feel comfortable and help educate you throughout the appointment.

To get peace of mind, book an appointment for your skin check.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.