Recognising Skin Cancer in Primary Care

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Skin cancer, including melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma), has high global incidence.
• Melanoma incidence has risen 50% in the UK over the last decade, with late diagnoses common.
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is the primary risk factor, making over 80% of skin cancers preventable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the role of primary care clinicians in detecting and managing skin cancer.
• To provide guidance on risk factors, prevention, and early signs of common skin cancers.
• To review emerging technologies for improved diagnosis of suspicious skin lesions in primary care.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and clinical guidance on skin cancer detection and management.
• Focus on melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.
• Exploration of diagnostic aids and emerging technologies for primary care.

Main Results:

• Early detection and timely treatment significantly improve patient outcomes, especially for melanoma.
• Distinguishing malignant skin lesions from benign ones like seborrhoeic keratoses presents a diagnostic challenge.
• Primary care plays a key role in both prevention strategies and initial patient assessment.

Conclusions:

• Primary care clinicians are essential for improving skin cancer outcomes through early detection and prevention.
• Understanding risk factors, recognizing symptoms, and utilizing available diagnostic tools are critical.
• Future technologies may enhance the triage of suspicious skin lesions in primary care settings.