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(also referred to as...)

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Kaposi's Sarcoma, Melanoma, Paget's Disease, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

 
Description

With over 60,000 cases per year, skin cancer comprises one third of all cancers in Canada and is the most common form of this disease. This number could be reduced by 75% if more care was taken to protect skin from excess sun exposure during childhood.

Ninety three percent of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The good news is that most types are curable. Skin cancer is very slow to develop, taking several years, even decades, therefore early detection is very possible.

More common forms tend to develop on sun-exposed skin, but skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body. It can affect anyone regardless of skin colour, but there are risk factors that can increase your chance of developing skin cancer. Risk factors include: blond, red or light brown hair; light coloured eyes; freckles easily; large number of moles; family history of skin cancer; long periods of exposure to the sun; shorter periods of intense exposure; tendency to burn; use of tanning devices; and immunological factors.

The myth that tanning will protect you from skin cancer is false. Tanning is the skin's response to ultraviolet light to attempt to prevent further injury, but does not give complete protection from ultraviolet radiation.

 

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