Abstract
Skin cancers are common in many parts of the world, and the number of cases is increasing. In the United Kingdom there are some 40 000 new cases each year. There are three main types of skin cancer. The most frequently occurring types are basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) and squamous cell carcinoma, both of which tend to occur in older people. Over 95% of these types of skin cancer are curable. They can, however, be disfiguring if not diagnosed and treated early.