Another important location to watch for skin cancer – the eyelids. Non-melanoma cancers, such as basal cell, squamous cell and sebaceous carcinoma, are the most common forms of eyelid cancer. Some signs to watch for with basal cell, squamous cell and sebaceous carcinoma cancers on the eyelid include changes of appearance on your eyelid, any swelling or thickening of the skin, chronic eyelid infections or any colorless mass in or on the eyelid. While melanoma certainly can develop on the eyelid as well, it’s not as common as other skin cancers in this area. Melanomas can also form in the eye itself. Although rare, melanoma is the most common intraocular cancer in adults. This means malignant cancer cells are present in the soft tissues of the eye. Melanoma symptoms include a dark area that appears in the colored iris around the pupil and blurry or spotty vision. This is an aggressive type of cancer that can spread to the lymph nodes and throughout the body. Immediate treatment by a medical oncologist is necessary. The approach to treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and the size and location of the tumor. The main risk factors for eyelid cancers are generally similar to the risks for skin cancer– the top two being UV exposure and family history. Additionally, demographics associated with higher risk include people with light-colored eyes, Caucasians, males and old age. Certain occupations – such as welders, farmers and chemical workers – are also at higher risk of developing melanoma due to on-the-job exposures.