Very rarely, malignant melanoma may be due to a genetic or familial tendency to the disease. Both basal and squamous cell skin cancers can appear anywhere on the body but are more likely to appear on exposed skin, especially the face, neck, arms, hands and lower legs. Most MMs start in normal skin. Others may develop in existing moles. People should be, encouraged to report any unusual marks on the skin which last more than a few weeks or an existing mole which shows any of the above signs.
Many people feel overwhelmed when told they have a diagnosis of skin cancer.
The prospect of potentially disfiguring treatment can be hard to cope with. People in this situation need accurate information and sensitive support to help them understand what is happening. These treatments may be used alone or in combination. Most people with non melanoma skin cancer are cured, whilst the prognosis for MM depends on the depth of the cancer in the skin. It is important to report a MM early.