There are three main families of skin cancer seen regularly in Australia, along with a number of rarer types not covered here. All three of the common types develop in the outermost layer of the skin, which makes up approximately the top ten per cent of skin depth.

Basal Cell Cancer

Basal Cell Cancer (BCC) is the most common skin cancer we see. It begins in the cells that make up the basement, or bottom, layer of the epidermis. BCCs have a reputation for being a relatively low-grade cancer, but this can be misleading — if left untreated, they will continue to spread and can be fatal. They are often difficult to spot, sometimes appearing as little more than a faint scar or a vague collection of blood vessels, and a small number of Australians die each year from BCCs.

When diagnosed early, BCCs can usually be removed with minimally invasive surgery that leaves a minimal scar. If diagnosis is delayed, more extensive surgery is often required. BCCs are frequently seen in younger, fair-skinned people in their twenties and thirties, and become more common with age.

Squamous Cell Cancer

Squamous Cell Cancer (SCC) is the next most common skin cancer, developing in the cells that extend from just above the basement layer to the surface of the skin. SCCs often present as skin-coloured or red lumps, sometimes disguised among other lumps on the skin, and can occasionally be tender. Generally more aggressive than BCCs, they need to be treated promptly and appropriately. While some grow quickly, others may be barely noticeable for some time. SCCs are responsible for between 500 and 600 deaths in Australia each year, and can readily spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment cells. Although it accounts for only around five per cent of all skin cancers diagnosed in Australia, it is responsible for approximately 75 per cent of all skin cancer deaths. While often associated with younger Australians aged 15 to 30, melanoma actually becomes more common as we age, with men over 65 the most likely to develop it.

Melanoma can be a genuinely difficult cancer to diagnose. Only around 20 to 30 per cent of melanomas resemble the textbook or online photographs most people are familiar with. Many simply look like an ordinary mole, an age spot, or a freckle, and some have no pigment at all, appearing only as a slightly red patch of skin. Early diagnosis is critical — the sooner melanoma is identified and treated, the better the likely outcome.

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