Cancer Screening - Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada. The main cause of skin cancer is getting too much sun. The Canadian Dermatology Association reports that 1 in 7 children born today will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. The good news is that skin cancer is preventable. It can take up to 30 years for any signs to appear on your skin. The highest rates of skin cancer are usually in older adults but prevention cannot wait until you are older. It is important to look for changes on your skin because the earlier you notice any changes and see your doctor about them, the better.

What you can do:

• Follow the Be Sun Safe guidelines we gave you in the prevention section of our website.
• Be aware of any changes on your skin and report these to your doctor or nurse practitioner.

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends:

• Check your skin regularly, as most skin cancers can be cured if they are caught early enough.
• Make sure that you or someone else checks “hard-to-get-at” places such as your back, back of your neck and ears and backs of your legs.