Skin cancer occurs when abnormal skin cells grow out of control.
There are three types of cancer, but the most dangerous form is a melanoma. It arises from cells in the skin which produce a brown pigment (melanin), the substance which gives skin its colour. It appears as a new spot, or an existing spot, freckle or mole that changes colour, size or shape. It usually has an irregular or smudgy outline, can be more than one colour (brown, black, red, white and/or light grey) and grows over weeks to months anywhere on the body, including armpits and other places that do not see the sun.
Fortunately melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer but is the most deadly and if untreated can spread quickly to other parts of the body and form secondary cancers.
More than 95 per cent of skin cancers are cured if treated early. If you check your skin regularly, you will see early changes that could be skin cancer. If diagnosed with skin cancer the treatment will typically be removing the cancer surgically.