Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. The good news is that, caught early, the vast majority are cured with straightforward treatment. In places as sunny as the Costa del Sol, knowing the warning signs is especially important.
Main types
- Basal cell carcinoma: the most common. It often appears as a pearly lump, a sore that will not heal, or a pink patch that bleeds easily, usually on the face. It grows slowly and very rarely spreads to other organs.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: a rough, crusty or growing lesion on sun-exposed skin. It often develops from actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous lesions).
- Melanoma: less common but more aggressive. It can appear as a new mole or in a mole that changes. The ABCDE rule helps detect it.
Pre-cancerous lesions
Actinic keratoses are small rough patches on sun-exposed skin. Treating them with creams, photodynamic therapy or, in Gibraltar, cryotherapy reduces the risk of them turning into carcinoma.
Diagnosis
Dermoscopy allows lesions to be assessed very accurately. When in doubt, a biopsy confirms the diagnosis.
Treatment
Surgery is the main treatment in most cases: the lesion is removed with a safety margin and examined in the laboratory. I perform surgery under local anaesthetic, with careful attention to the cosmetic result. Selected superficial lesions can be treated with creams or photodynamic therapy.
Prevention
Daily sun protection, avoiding sunburn, checking your skin monthly and regular dermatology check-ups if you have risk factors.
This article is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation.
