Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland. There are many different types, but the most common are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Each year, skin cancer affects approximately 7,000 people for the first time. A large proportion of these will go on to develop a second, third or more skin cancers. Once you have had one type of skin cancer, you are at a higher risk of developing other forms of the disease. There are many other forms of skin cancer, most of which are rare. Thankfully, most skin cancers are not life-threatening. Even the most dangerous form, malignant melanoma, is curable if caught in the early stages.
The most important cause of skin cancer is the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (sunburn) and overall sun exposure. Also important is your skin type and how it reacts to the sun: fair/red hair, blue/green eyes, freckles and the ability to tan. In addition, some skin cancers have a genetic basis.
The body’s organs and tissues are made up of building blocks called cells. In healthy tissue, cells replace or repair themselves when they get damaged or are worn out. Different skin cancers occur when skin cells do not behave as normal and continue to grow even when there is no need. If the cancerous cells continue to grow locally or are in the early stages and have not spread, the cancers do not result in serious disease or death but can cause disfigurement. If, however, the cancer cells spread elsewhere in the body, death can result. That is why identifying skin cancer early is so important.
There are certain risk factors that can increase your chance of developing skin cancer. These include:
St James’s Hospital is one of the national skin cancer diagnostic centres and one of the eight national treatment centres. It is the only centre in Ireland performing a specialised type of surgery for high-risk skin cancers called Mohs micrographic surgery.
Actinic Keratosis–Sun Damage Spots
The treatments options for skin cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other drug treatments. Your treatment plan will depend on the type of skin cancer you have, and each patient’s treatment will be tailored to their individual needs. The aim of treatment is to remove the cancer and stop any further growth or spread of cancer.
In deciding the most suitable treatment, your doctor will consider:
In St James’s Hospital, treatment for skin cancer is provided by a variety of specialists. The skin is the largest organ in the body, so many different specialties are involved in treating the many different forms of skin cancer. Most commonly, it is treated by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, radiation oncologists, head and neck surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons and medical oncologists. Diagnosing skin cancer can be difficult, but St James’s Hospital has two consultant pathologists with special skills in the laboratory diagnosis of skin cancer. Any complex or difficult skin cancer and all melanomas are discussed by these specialists at multidisciplinary skin cancer meetings.
The skin cancer team at St James’s Hospital involves many different specialties in different departments: Dermatology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology.
Dermatology Consultants
Registrars
Mohs Micrographic Surgery Nurses
Mohs Surgery Laboratory Scientists
Melanoma CNS
Plastic Surgery
Dermatopathology
Medical Oncology
Radiotherapy
Radiology
Data Manager
MDT Coordinator
Support services available for skin cancer patients:
The Irish Skin Foundation
Charles Institute UCD, University College Dublin, Dublin 4
Phone (01) 7166299
Email: info@irishskinfoundation.ie
Irish Cancer Society
43/45 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4
Phone (01) 2310500 Fax: (01) 2310555
Email: info@irishcancer.ie
Website: www.cancer.ie
National Cancer Helpline
Phone 1800 200 700
Email: helpline@irishcancer.ie
Marie Keating Foundation
Unit 9, Millbank Business Park, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Phone (01) 6283726 Fax: (01) 6283759
Email: info@mariekeating.ie
Website: www.mariekeating.ie