Can you spot

A rip at the beach?

A great wave?
A skin cancer?
Two in three Australians will
develop skin cancer before
the age of 70. The good news
is that 95 per cent of skin
cancers can be successfully
treated if detected early.
Do you know what skin cancer
looks like?
A simple check could save
your life. We should all check
our skin regularly. Get to
know your skin and take
immediate action if you notice
any changes.
If you have fair skin, blue or
green eyes, fair or red hair or
lots of moles or freckles you
are at high risk of developing
skin cancer.
Cumulative UV exposure also
contributes to your risk of
developing skin cancer. So if
you grew up in Australia, work
outdoors or spend lots of time
in the sun you should take
care to protect and check
your skin.

Use the ABCD of melanoma detection to check for the following:

Asymmetry Border Colour Diameter
If the spot or A spot with A spot with A spot that
lesion is divided a spreading a number is growing
in half, the two or irregular of different and changing
halves are not a edge. colours in diameter
mirror image. through it. or size.

Skin cancers Warning signs Check your skin regularly Be SunSmart.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell The following spots are • Many skin cancers are detected Protect yourself in five
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. not skin cancer but may by people themselves or by a ways from skin cancer.
predispose you to skin cancer family member. UV levels are highest
Melanoma or be a warning sign that skin
•  Accounts for 1–2% of skin cancers. •  To check your skin, undress during the middle of
damage has occurred. completely and stand in good the day. Take care to
•  Is the most dangerous and aggressive form light. be SunSmart when the
of skin cancer. Dysplastic naevi (‘atypical •  Use a full-length or hand-held UV Index is 3 or above.
•  If left untreated can spread to other parts of the moles’) mirror to check your back,
body and can be fatal. Check our UV Alert online
•  Are odd-shaped moles that legs and scalp. If there are or download our
•  Grows quickly over weeks to months. may indicate a greater risk of areas you can’t see properly
developing melanoma. SunSmart app at
•  Can appear as a new or existing spot, freckle ask a family member or your
•  Usually 5-10mm wide with GP for a skin check – don’t www.cancer.org.au/UVAlert
or mole that changes in colour, size or shape.
•  Can grow anywhere on the body, not just areas uneven colouring. ignore them. Slip on
exposed to the sun. •  If you have lots of odd- •  Make sure you check your protective
•  Occurs most frequently on the upper back shaped moles get your skin entire body as skin cancers clothing
in males and on the lower leg in females. checked regularly by your can sometimes occur on parts •  Use clothing
doctor. of the body not exposed to the to cover as
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) sun, for example the soles of much skin as
• Accounts for about 66% of skin cancers. Solar keratoses (‘sunspots’) the feet. Go through the same possible.
• Grows slowly over months or years. •  Generally hard, red, scaly checking sequence each time
•  Look for small, round or flattened spots that are spots on sun-exposed areas to get into a routine. Slop on SPF
red, pale or pearly in colour. Some are scaly like of the skin. 30 or higher
Check your:
a patch of eczema. •  Most commonly found on the sunscreen
head, neck and on the back •  Head, scalp, neck and ears
•  May become ulcerated, bleed and fail to heal. Take an extra close look around •  Make sure
•  Usually found on the upper body, head or neck. of the hands. the nose, lips, ears and scalp. it’s broad
• Is a warning sign that the spectrum
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) skin has been damaged by •  Torso and water-
• Accounts for about 33% of skin cancers. the sun and that skin cancers Check the front, back and resistant.
•  Grows over months and may spread if not treated. may develop. sides of the torso.
•  Look for scaly red areas that may bleed easily, •  If you have solar keratoses, •  Arms, hands, fingers and nails Slap on a hat
ulcers or non-healing sores that are often protect yourself from further Remember to look at the spaces •  Wear a broad-
painful, especially when touched. sun damage and have your between the fingers and the brimmed hat
skin checked regularly by a beds of your fingernails. that covers
•  Often found on lips, ears, scalp, backs of the
hands and lower legs. doctor. •  Buttocks, legs and feet your face,
Remember to check between head, neck
toes, under toenails and on and ears.
the soles of feet.
Seek shade
Harmless spots See a doctor straight away
if you notice: •  Make use of
Seborrhoeic keratoses (‘senile warts’) trees or built
•  Common non-cancerous spots sometimes confused with •  A skin spot that is different
from other spots around it. shade or bring
melanomas. your own.
•  Raised warty-looking brown or black lesions with well- •  A mole or freckle that has
defined borders. changed in size, shape or colour. Slide on some
•  Mostly found on the trunk but can occur anywhere on the body. •  A new spot that has changed sunglasses
over weeks or months in size, •  Close-fitting
shape or colour. wrap-around
•  An inflamed sore that has not styles offer
Eye damage healed within three weeks. the best
The sun can also damage your eyes.

Melanoma
protection.
In the short term, sun exposure can cause
burns to the eye similar to sunburn

accounts
of the skin. Long-term exposure
can lead to cataracts (clouding 1
of the lens), pterygium (tissue

for 10%
covering the cornea) and cancer
of the conjunctiva or cornea. It is
important to protect your eyes by

of all
2
wearing sunglasses and a broad-
brimmed or bucket hat.

cancers
1. Pterygium (tur-ridg-i-um)
2.  Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the conjunctiva 3
3. Cataract

For more information call Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 or visit www.cancer.org.au Developed with assistance from Dr Jamie Von Nida, Dr Peter Randell and Dr Judy Cole.