Preventing Skin Cancer

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The Issue

Most cases of skin cancer are preventable. You can reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by taking some simple but important steps.

Background

Skin plays a vital role in keeping us healthy. It is the largest organ in our body, and it protects us from potential problems caused by such factors as dehydration, the sun, bacterial infections, and pollution. However, the skin's ability to protect us has limits. Various factors can cause damage that cannot be repaired. This is how skin cancer may develop.

About Skin Cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.

Most cases of skin cancer in Canada are either basal or squamous cell carcinoma. These skin cancers tends to develop later in life on skin that has been exposed repeatedly to the sun, such as the face, neck, or hands. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas progress slowly and rarely cause death because they usually don't spread to other parts of the body. These cancers are easily removed by surgery.

Malignant melanomas are different. They account for only one or two percent of all skin cancers, but are the type most likely to be fatal. Unlike other skin cancers, they occur earlier in life and progress r