{"id":558524,"date":"2026-07-20T05:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/558524\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T05:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:47:09","slug":"regardless-of-the-temperature-outside-you-need-to-be-aware-of-the-signs-of-skin-cancer-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/558524\/","title":{"rendered":"Regardless of the temperature outside, you need to be aware of the signs of skin cancer \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is estimated that one in five people in Ireland will develop skin cancer<\/a> at some stage in their life.<\/p>\n

\u201cApproximately 11,556 people were diagnosed annually with skin cancer in Ireland in the period between 2018-2022, accounting for 34 per cent of all invasive cancers,\u201d says, Bernie Carter, assistant director of nursing at the Marie Keating Foundation (MKF). \u201cThere are two main types: non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer. <\/p>\n

\u201cNon-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common type in Ireland with over 10,000 cases diagnosed annually, accounting for 90 per cent of all skin cancers. Fortunately, NMSC can usually be treated and mortality is generally low. Around three-quarters of NMSC are basal cell carcinomas, with the remainder being squamous cell carcinomas.<\/p>\n

\u201cMelanoma skin cancer accounts for 11 per cent (1,243) of skin cancers annually in Ireland between 2018-2022. This is a less common but more aggressive type of skin cancer with a five-year survival rate of 93 per cent, and higher survival rates seen in females than in males.\u201d<\/p>\n

This month has seen some extremely hot days in Ireland, and across Europe. But, regardless of the temperature outside, the Marie Keating Foundation<\/a> is urging people to be aware of the signs of skin cancer and to seek advice if they have any concerns.<\/p>\n

Carter says fairer-skinned people, with lots of freckles and moles, are more at risk. However, anyone can get skin cancer, so we all need to protect our skin and observe it for any new changes.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the changes can have no symptoms whatsoever and may just appear as a new mole or growth. This is what happened with Garvan McFeeley (59), who went to see his doctor in 2021 for an unrelated issue and just happened to mention a growth he had on his right ear.<\/p>\n

Although his GP didn\u2019t think there was anything unusual about it, she referred him to hospital for removal as it was \u201cmarginally too big to deal with at the surgery\u201d.<\/p>\n

Having had it removed, McFeeley didn\u2019t think anything more about it, but a week later, he got a call from the hospital asking him to come back urgently for a follow up appointment. \u201cAfter the growth was surgically removed, it was examined as a matter of routine,\u201d he says. \u201cI got a call a week later saying they needed to see me ASAP. Obviously, something nasty was discovered \u2013 but which flavour of nasty I did not know.<\/p>\n

\"GarvanGarvan McFeeley. Photograph: Karl Hussey <\/p>\n

\u201cThen, after an anxious weekend, I got the bad news [that the growth was cancerous \u2013 an amelanotic melanoma]. I was distraught and the shock was awful. As it was during Covid times I had to attend the appointment on my own and this made it even worse as I had to phone home with the news. The doctors from my GP surgery were also shocked, as they thought it was a standard referral.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three weeks after his diagnosis, the Dublin man underwent a second bout of surgery, followed by PET and CT scans, various tests and further examinations. Fortunately, he didn\u2019t require any further treatment. He is grateful the growth was detected and treated early and says he is now very cautious about being out in the sun, and others should be too. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am doing well now and my loving wife, family, friends, work colleagues and employer have been really wonderful \u2013 our dogs were a great source of solace too,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are good supports out there for cancer patients and their families and the melanoma support group I am in has been great \u2013 in fact, everyone I have encountered along the way have been wonderful. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn the hospital I was in the public system all the way and I can honestly say I received the best of care. The nurses, doctors, my cancer nurse, the lab technicians, porters, cleaners and catering team were all phenomenal. They do an amazing job. Tea and toast postsurgery is a four-Michelin-star dining experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would advise people [who have been diagnosed with skin cancer] to use any and all supports they can. But my advice to everyone would be to coat yourself in sun cream, making sure it is in date and read the quantity needed. Putting on sun cream on midwinters day is a bit odd still or putting it on before sunrise if you are going travelling, but it\u2019s so important. I have never used a sunbed, but I think they should all be destroyed. I\u2019ve been through a rollercoaster and it takes a long time to get through it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Carter says the first sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is \u201cusually a lump or crusted area of skin that has not healed\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does not go away and slowly progresses over months or sometimes years,\u201d she says. \u201cNon-melanoma skin cancer often develops on areas of skin that are in the sun a lot. These include your face, ears, hands, upper chest and neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first sign of melanoma is often a new mole or changes in an existing mole \u2013 normal moles are usually round or oval, with a smooth edge. They are no bigger than 6mm wide. Signs to look out for include a mole that is getting bigger, changing shape or colour, bleeding or becoming crusty, itchy or sore. <\/p>\n

\u201cContact your GP as soon as possible if you notice any skin change which is new for you and which doesn\u2019t heal inside three weeks. This could be a lump that is tender and grows quickly, a cut or break in the skin that doesn\u2019t heal or changes to a mole, freckle or patch of skin, especially if the changes happen over a few weeks or months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it\u2019s not likely to be skin cancer, it\u2019s best to check it out. Your GP can examine your skin and they may refer you to a specialist if they\u2019re unsure or suspect skin cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surgery is the main treatment for both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer. And in some cases, treatment for melanoma skin cancer may also include chemotherapy or immunotherapy.<\/p>\n

\u201dThe majority of melanomas are diagnosed early, with 87 per cent of females and 81 per cent of males being diagnosed at stage one or two,\u201d says Carter. \u201cIn recent years mortality rates for melanoma have remained stable.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0The skin check you should never skip, plus great products to protect you from the sunOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\u201dIncorporating sun protection into everyday routines helps reduce both cumulative and intermittent exposure to the UVA and UVB rays. Many people are aware of the risks associated with intense, short-term exposure to Ultraviolet [UV] rays which can lead to sunburn and skin damage. However, the accumulation of everyday UV exposure over a lifetime is also a significant risk for skin cancer developing.\u201d<\/p>\n

ABCDE checklist for checking moles for changesAsymmetry \u2013 if you draw a line down the centre of your mole, is it larger on one side?Border \u2013 are the borders of your mole uneven, jagged or notched?Colour \u2013 has your mole changed colour over time or does it contain several different colours?Diameter \u2013 is the circumference of your mole larger than the top of a rubber on a pencil (larger than 6mm \u2013 the size of a pencil rubber), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.Evolving \u2013 has your mole changes in height, appearance or are you experiencing any changes within or around your mole (eg itching, bleeding, crusting) age.The \u201cSunSmart Code\u201d can be used to reduce the risk of skin cancerSeek Shade if outdoors from 11am to 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. Always use a sunshade on a child\u2019s buggy.Slip on some clothes made from close-woven material that covers skin. Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect exposed skin such as face, neck and ears from harmful rays.Slide on sunglasses with UV protection to shield your eyes from UV rays and protect yourself from cancer and chronic conditions such as cataracts.Slop on sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ for adults and 50+ for children, with high UVA protection and water resistance.\u00a0 Apply regularly and thoroughly throughout the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is estimated that one in five people in Ireland will develop skin cancer at some stage in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":558525,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[258,103,1355,61,60,20066],"class_list":["post-558524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-cancer","tag-health","tag-heat","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-skin-cancer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=558524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=558524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=558524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=558524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}