Non-melanoma skin cancer

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer

Skin changes that could be skin cancer include:

  • A small lump that is smooth, pearly or waxy
  • A flat, red spot that is scaly, crusty or bleeding
  • A lump that is firm, scaly or has a crusted surface. It may be sore
  • Rough, scaly irregular patches

Skin cancers do not all look the same. 

Image of basal cell carcinoma
Image of basal cell carcinoma
Image of basal cell carcinoma
Actinic keratosis

If you have any of these signs, get them checked out by your doctor as soon as possible. They will examine you and decide what to do. 

Watch our short animation about skin health

Can I be screened for skin cancer?

Testing for skin cancer when you have no symptoms is called screening. At the moment, there is no national skin cancer screening programme in Ireland. 

Spotting skin cancer early

The best way to spot cancer early is to check your skin for any changes and go to your GP if you find anything unusual. 

Non-melanoma skin cancer - What you should know
Non-melanoma skin cancer - What you should know
Booklet 10 pages 1003.64 KB
This leaflet explains what to check for when you're looking for changes that could be non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common kind of skin cancer.
Be skin smart - Signs of non-melanoma skin cancer
Be skin smart - Signs of non-melanoma skin cancer
Poster 1 page 1.13 MB
Be skin smart! What to look for when you're checking for signs of non-melanoma skin cancer. An A4 poster to download, share, or print.

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