HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Writer: Allison Cooper
Skin cancer: What to look for
A
s skin cancer is
skin and to other areas of
in anyone, despite their
usually curable,
the body, including the
race, age and gender,”
types of skin cancer, the
when detected
organs. If this happens, it
says Dr Khensani Ngob-
three most common ones
can be deadly.
eni-Mkize, a Mbombela-
are basal cell carcinoma
based specialist derma-
(BCC), squamous cell
tologist.
carcinoma (SCC) and
and treated early, it is important to have your skin
With Skin Cancer Aware-
checked by a dermatolo-
ness Month commemo-
gist regularly.
rated from 1 December
She explains that sun
While there are various
MM.
to 31 January, PSM sheds
damage to the skin
nant melanoma (MM)
some light on the various
starts in childhood and
of skin cancer include
– the most dangerous
forms of skin cancer and
poor sun protection puts
a fast-growing lump,
form of skin cancer – can
what to look for.
children at risk for skin
scaly patch on the skin,
cancer later in life.
mole changes and non-
If you do not, a malig-
spread deeper into the
50
“Skin cancer can occur
“The early warning signs
Public Sector Manager • December 2020/January 2021
