Express – Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma / Skin Cancer

Express.co.uk asked Dr Ross Perry, founder and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, to explain more about the different types of skin cancer including melanoma and non melanoma for its latest feature.

Dr Ross Perry said:

“With regard to skin cancer, what’s commonly not known is that there are 2 types of skin cancer. We have melanoma skin. cancer and non melanoma skin cancer.

“Melanoma skin cancer unfortunately is the one that we’re most afraid of. This is the one that can spread and kill people and is the most aggressive of the two forms of skin cancer. 70% of all melanomas are a brand new mole; and what melanomas look like are generally dark, irregular and flat moles. They can occur on any part of the body; most commonly for men on the back and most commonly for women on the legs.

“You then have non melanoma skin cancer, which often has different signs and symptoms. The often start as a sort of a red scaly patch of skin, they can often itch and bleed a little bit, they can often even sometimes grow out of the skin a little bit and form a bit of a raised bump. These types of skin cancers are much more easily treated and they’re much more common in people in their 50s, 60s and 70s and much more related to areas of sun exposure.”

As seen in Express

This video appeared as part of The Express’s story:

“Mum will ‘never be free’ of skin cancer after spotting first symptoms 12 years ago”

The story featured Melissa Lewis 48, who has been living with skin cancer for over 12 years and feared she was ‘never going to be free’ of the disease.

Her experience started in 2011, when she spotted a blemish on her leg. It was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma – a common type of non-melanoma skin cancer. She has since had issues on her forehead, nose, chest and back and has had many removed.

In 2018, she discovered what looked like a group of freckles in front of her ear. This was diagnosed as melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Melissa quickly had her melanoma removed, but 2 months later a biopsy revealed Bowen’s disease, an early form of skin cancer.

She now has photodynamic therapy every year. This non-surgical treatment involves light-sensitive medicine and a light source to destroy abnormal cells. She finds it stressful as well as painful and unattractive.

Melissa says of the treatment:

“I will have up to 14 days looking like Freddy Krueger – I can’t go out in public.

“I look at my own kids when I have had the treatment and they find it hard to look at me.

“I tell them that this is why you put sunscreen on, this is why you are careful.”

Read this article in full

To read more, please visit https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1767746/skin-cancer-symptoms.

Dr Ross Perry

Dr Ross Perry regularly provides expert comment and advises the media on a range of skincare and health-related issues.

He has particular expertise in skin surgery mole removal and melanoma; having removed thousands of moles in his career, both within the NHS and privately through Cosmedics Skin Clinics. He has provided expert advice on sun damage and sun protection for a variety of UK media and publications.

He also comments on the latest cosmetic and anti-ageing treatment methods.

DR ROSS PERRY

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003 and has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical skin treatments, carried out by GMC Registered Doctors.  The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers; plus medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics has a team of skin treatment doctors and surgeons in their 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol led by Dr Ross Perry.

Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk to book an appointment.