Skin Cancer Can Appear Where You Least Expect It

For most people, skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are seen to be only caused when you get sunburnt or have spent a lot of time unprotected in the sun. However this is not necessarily the case, specifically with melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.

Like many other medical predispositions, melanoma can be a result of ‘bad genes’ passed down your bloodline and is not always related to sun exposure.

Although a vast majority of skin cancers are related to sun exposure, there are many cases where a potentially deadly skin cancer will develop on areas of the body that are not exposed to the sun.

These areas include, but are not limited to; inside the mouth, soles of the feet, around the genitals and under the finger and toe nails. The main factor for this is your genetic make-up. This means that if you have a blood related family who has been diagnosed with a melanoma, you are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

The only way to help prevent the development and spreading of skin cancer is to ensure adequate protection from UV radiation (slip, slop, slide, seek shade!) and have regular skin cancer checks. Self-assessments should take place every few months with a professional skin cancer examination once per year.

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