SKIN cancer is the most common form of human cancer.

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal.

The term "skin cancer" refers to three different conditions. They are:

Basal cell carcinoma; accounts for about 80% of cases and death is rare. Warning signs include the classic "sore that doesn't heal".

Squamous cell carcinoma; found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin and the lining of hollow organs of the body. Accounts for about 8% of cases.

Melanomas; can be caused after exposure to the sun or UV light. They occur when moles or skin tissue changes shape or colour. It can indicate a cancerous change in skin.

They account for about 12% of cases and death can result in a minority of cases.