SKIN CANCER
INFORMATION ON SKIN CANCER
SKIN CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS
SKIN CANCER LIFE STORIES
Information on Skin Cancer
Research shows in the UK 90% of melanoma cases could be prevented
Staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds are the best ways to avoid developing melanoma skin cancer. Here we explore the risk factors of skin cancer and what you can do to help yourself.
- UV Radiation: This is the most common cause. UV rays—whether from natural sunlight or artificial sunbeds—damage the DNA inside skin cells, hindering the body’s ability to repair the damage. This accumulated damage leads to genetic mutations over time.
- Sunburns and Blistering: A history of sunburns, particularly those that caused blisters during childhood, significantly raises the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.
- Skin Type: People with pale skin that burns easily, blonde or red hair, and blue or green eyes are more vulnerable to UV damage. However, individuals of all skin tones can develop skin cancer.
- Genetics and Family History: Inherited gene mutations and a family history of skin cancer increase your susceptibility. Conditions like xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) can make skin extremely sensitive to UV rays.
- Weakened Immune System: Individuals with suppressed immune systems, such as those on immunosuppressant medications (e.g., following an organ transplant) or people with conditions like HIV or IBD (irritable bowel disease), have a higher risk.
- HPV: Epidermodysplasia verruciformis is a rare inherited condition which means your body can’t fight off HPV. It causes warts and scaly patches on your skin. People with this condition have a higher risk of getting SCC (squamous cell carcinoma – a type of non-melanoma skin cancer).
- Chemical Exposure: Regular, long-term contact with industrial substances like arsenic, coal tar, soot, mineral oils, shale oils and certain paraffins can increase the risk.
- Other Medical Factors: Prior skin cancer history, severe chronic skin inflammation, deep scars from burns, and radiation therapy can predispose the skin to cancer.
- Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop non melanoma skin cancer. But skin cancers can develop in younger people too.
Staying safe in the sun
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Shade – spend time in the shade, especially between 11 am and 3pm
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Cover up with clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection
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Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars. Use it generously, reapply regularly and use together with shade and clothing.
Skin cancer: It’s not always a changing mole
As temperatures rise and more people spend time outdoors, it’s important to remember that skin cancer doesn’t always look like a changing mole.
While many people know to watch for changes in moles, some forms of skin cancer can appear as a pink or red patch, flaky skin, a shiny bump or even a small sore that simply won’t heal. Because these signs don’t fit the typical image of skin cancer, they’re often overlooked.
When people think of skin cancer, they usually imagine a dark mole changing shape or colour. Although this can be an important warning sign, it’s only one of several symptoms.
According to Cancer Research UK, skin cancer is one of the UK’s most common cancers, and cases continue to increase. A mark that remains for several weeks without improving should never be ignored, even if it doesn’t look serious.
Warning signs to look out for
- A sore that hasn’t healed after four weeks
- A pink, red or scaly patch of skin
- A shiny or pearly-looking bump
- A persistent crusty area
- A mole that changes in size, shape or colour
- Any new mark that continues to grow
Your skin has an excellent ability to heal itself. If a spot, patch or sore has been present for weeks or months without healing, it’s worth having it checked by a healthcare professional.
Many people associate sun damage with holidays abroad, but much of our lifetime UV exposure happens here in the UK. Everyday activities such as gardening, walking the dog, eating lunch outside or relaxing in the garden all add up. With warmer weather becoming more common, protecting your skin and staying alert to changes is more important than ever.
Skin Cancer Charities
Charities are a great resource to help support you or your loved ones on your cancer journey. They can offer information and support in a variety of ways, practical, physical, emotional and financial. Some offer helplines, with access to medically-trained staff, and others fund research into finding a cure or better treatment for cancer. Please see below some charities that offer help.
Skcin – The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity
SKCIN is the UK’s leading skin cancer awareness charity specialising in the prevention and early detection of skin cancer through educational intervention. Our mission is to save lives and suffering from melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, to prevent the disease,...
Skin support
The aim of the project was to bring together leading experts in the field of psychodermatology and patients, with input from patient support groups, to develop a website to support people in psychological distress due to skin conditions. The website is designed as a...
Melanoma UK
At Melanoma UK it is our challenge and desire to give patients and their families much needed support during the very difficult times faced upon diagnosis. Telephone: 0161 821 5657 Website: https://www.melanomauk.org.uk/ Address: Melanoma UK, Adamson House, Ground...
Melanoma Me
We offer counselling, one to one, group support and holistic therapies to those affected by malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Telephone: 0191 417 4500 Website: http://melanoma-me.org.uk/ Address: MelanomaMe 15 Lowthian Terrace Columbia Washington Tyne...
Melanoma Focus
Commissioning and funding innovative melanoma research, while providing support and information for patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Telephone: 0808 801 0777 Website: https://melanomafocus.org/ Address: Melanoma Focus Salisbury House Station Road...
Other Useful Resources for Skin Cancer
Click on the logos below to learn more
Find a support group for Skin Cancer
It can be really useful to speak to other people who know how you are feeling because they have been there too. Speaking to those who have a lived experience of cancer can be a great source of comfort. Many support groups also invite speakers or have medical staff in attendance, so can be a great resource to help you on your cancer journey. Here are some local support groups you may be interested in.
If you know of a support group for Skin Cancer in your area or would like to run a support group – please contact us
Skin Cancer Life Stories
Jamie’s story – melanoma
Jamie Sutcliffe has always been an active guy, with hobbies such as cycling and running, but he has never been one for sunbathing or foreign holidays. That’s why he was surprised to discover that he had melanoma skin cancer at only 25 years of age. Here he tells his...
Cancer Journeys – Johnny Radcliffe – anorectal mucosal melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experience of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Johnny Radcliffe about his rare cancer Anorectal Mucosal Melanoma and his terminal diagnosis at just 45 Jacqui...
Cancer Journeys – Jonathan Sanderson – malignant melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Jonathan Sanderson about his diagnosis with Malignant Melanoma at just 29 years old
Cancer Journeys – Kevin Donaghy – metastatic melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Kevin Donaghy about his journey with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma & how he published his book "Stories of...
Kevin’s story – melanoma
Stories of Cancer and Hope IT worker Kevin, an ambassador for Melanoma UK, has compiled stories from patients and their families about their experience of cancer. He has compiled a book called Stories of Cancer and Hope, to bring hope and comfort to those living with...
Cancer Journeys – Paul Haigh – melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Paul Haigh about how he very sadly lost his wife Jane in 2022 to Melanoma.
Cancer Journeys – Rachel Coffey – malignant melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Rachel Coffey about her diagnosis with stage 4 Malignant Melanoma. Jacqui's goal and legacy is to...
Cancer Journeys – Prof Julia Newton-Bishop – career as a clinician scientist and Professor of Dermatology
Check out this short podcast where Jacqui talks to Prof Julia Newton-Bishop about her career as a clinician scientist
Cancer Journeys – Susanna Daniels – career in cancer services and CEO of Melanoma Focus
Check out this short podcast where Jacqui talks to Susanna Daniels about her career in cancer services and how she is now CEO of Melanoma Focus
Cancer Journeys – Howard Peach – Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Melanoma MDT Lead Clinician
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Howard Peach about his careeer as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and his role as the regional melanoma MDT lead...
Cancer Journeys – Jeremy Shoesmith – metastatic melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Jeremy Shoesmith about his journey with Metastatic Melanoma. Jacqui's goal and legacy is to raise £1,000,000 for...
Cancer Journeys – Victoria Dannatt – metastatic melanoma
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Victoria Dannatt about her battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. Jacqui's goal and legacy is to...
Cancer Journeys – Hannah Corne – cillary body melanoma and thyroid cancer
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Hannah Corne about her diagnosis of Cillary Body Melanoma. She also had to have her eye removed, plus she was...
Cancer Journeys – Helen Notley – melanoma & the benefits of exercise
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Helen Notley about her journey with melanoma & how exercise has played a huge part & helped her....
Cancer Journeys – Jonathan Moseley
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Jonathan Moseley who is one of the leading UK florist designers. His mum sadly passed with breast cancer and his...
Cancer Journeys – Jacqui Drake
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks about her own journey with stage 4 terminal malignant melanoma. Jacqui's goal and legacy is to raise £1,000,000 for...
Cancer Journeys – Helen Jackson and Dr Keith Howell
Jacqui Drake talks to people who have had cancer or their loved ones and shares their experiences of this terrible disease. In this episode Jacqui talks to Helen Jackson who is a melanoma clinical nurse and Dr Keith Howell who is a specialist in medical oncology for...