Skin cancer

The main symptom of skin cancer is a change in your skin, particularly a new growth or a sore that doesn’t heal. 

You may notice any of the following:

• a small, smooth, shiny, pale, or waxy lump

• a firm red lump

• pain or itching around a growth on your skin 

• a lump that bleeds or forms a crust

• a flat red spot that’s rough, dry, or scaly

• rough red or brown scaly patches (known as actinic keratosis) can turn into squamous cell cancer

• changes to an existing mole or freckle, such as a change in size, shape, or colour

Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning beds. UV light contains radiation that changes the DNA inside skin cells and causes damage that can lead to skin cancer.

Some skin cancers occur on parts of the body that aren’t usually exposed to UV light, meaning there appears to be another cause. Experts aren’t sure what causes these types of skin cancer, but they may be due to having a weakened immune system or a family history of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is more likely to develop in people with the following risk factors:

• lighter natural skin colour

• family or personal history of skin cancer

• a history of sunburn early in life

• skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily or becomes painful in the sun

• blue or green eyes

• blonde or red hair

• a large number of moles

At your first Welbeck consultation, you’ll be seen by a consultant dermatologist. They’ll ask you about your symptoms, general health, family and medical history, and any medications you take regularly. They’ll also perform a physical examination and look at your skin. 

If you have an area of skin that looks abnormal, your consultant will remove all or part of the growth (biopsy) and send the tissue to the laboratory to check for cancer cells.

Screening for skin cancer 

If you have a history of skin cancer or an increased risk of developing the condition, you may choose to have regular screening to pick up any changes early. 

Screening techniques include: 

• mole checks – your dermatologist will examine your skin using a device called a dermatascope to determine if there are any abnormalities or moles that need further monitoring or removal

• mole mapping – uses an advanced whole body 3D imaging system to map and monitor your moles regularly and check for any changes

Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and tanning beds/lamps, with both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) contributing to skin cancer development. 

Therefore, the best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun by doing the following:

• use sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection of SPF 30 or higher when outside

• stay in the shade, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV rays are strongest and most damaging

• cover any exposed skin with clothing

• wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head, face, ears and neck

• wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible

• don’t use tanning beds

Most skin cancer is treatable, especially if caught in the early stages of the disease; however, skin cancer is a serious condition that needs immediate treatment. 

Untreated skin cancer can lead to long-term complications, including: 

• metastasis – some types of skin cancer, such as melanoma, can spread to your other organs, like your lungs, liver, bones, and brain, which can be fatal

• infections

• scarring and disfigurement – can result from the cancer itself, or surgery to remove it 

• damage to nearby tissues, such as muscles and nerves

• fluid build-up in your tissues (lymphoedema) 

• recurrence – skin cancer can come back after treatment

The main goal when treating skin cancer is to completely remove or destroy the cancer without leaving too much of a scar. 

Treatment options depend on the size and location of the cancer, the risk of scarring, your age, general health, and medical history. 

Possible treatments for skin cancer include:

• curettage and electrodesiccation – in this procedure, your surgeon uses a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette to scoop out the cancer. They will then treat the area with an electric current to control any bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells at the edge of the wound (electrodesiccation). This is carried out under local anaesthetic, and most patients heal with a flat white scar

• Mohs surgery (margin-controlled excision) – this is a surgical technique that aims to remove all of the cancerous tissue and as little healthy tissue as possible

• cryosurgery – certain small skin cancers and actinic keratosis can be treated by applying liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the abnormal cells. You may need to have more than one treatment to completely remove the growth 

• laser therapy – for cancers that only involve the outer layer of skin, this procedure uses a narrow beam of light to remove or destroy the cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy is the process of using a combination of laser light and drugs to make the cells more sensitive to the light before treatment

• excision surgery – this is the main treatment used for skin cancer and involves removing the tumour and some surrounding tissue with a scalpel

• radiation therapy – this is mainly used for skin cancers in areas that are difficult to treat with surgery. You may need several treatments to fully destroy all of the cancer cells

• topical chemotherapy – this involves applying anti-cancer drugs to your skin in the form of a cream or lotion, and may be used to treat actinic keratosis and some superficial cancers

At Welbeck, our dermatologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.