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This new interactive calculator will reveal your risk of deadly skin cancer

In the UK, around 13,300 people a year are diagnosed with skin cancer every year

Just one bout of flaming hot sunburn every two years is enough to triple your risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer

THIS simple new test will calculate your chance of getting skin cancer.

All you have to do is answer 14 questions to determine your chances of battling the disease, which is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.

Skin cancer is the fifth biggest cancer in the UK
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Skin cancer is the fifth biggest cancer in the UKCredit: Getty - Contributor

Developed by Australia researchers from the , the quiz asks people their age, ethnicity, country they live in and how often they are exposed to the sun without protection like sunscreen.

It also asks if you have had any moles or skin cancers removed in the past and also if you have a family history of the disease.

Based on your answers, it will tell you if you are between "highly unlikely" or "highly likely" to develop skin cancer.

Professor David Whiteman, who developed the tool, said: "At the moment, cancer control agencies don’t recommend population-wide screening programs for melanoma.

SCROLL THROUGH THE TEST BELOW TO CALCULATE YOUR RISK

"It’s up to individuals to talk to their doctors about whether they need regular skin checks.

"This online risk predictor will help identify those people with the highest likelihood of developing melanoma so that they and their doctors can decide how to best manage their risk.

"Regular screening of those at highest risk may help to detect melanomas early, and hopefully before they’ve spread to the lower layers of the skin and other parts of the body.

"Importantly, in this study, we found that people’s actual risk of melanoma was quite different to their own assessment. This highlights the importance of getting personalised advice on your melanoma risk, because it could well be different to your perceived risk."

The test asks you how many moles you have on your body
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The test asks you how many moles you have on your body
It also asks you about any history of skin cancer or sun spots
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It also asks you about any history of skin cancer or sun spots

Professor Whiteman and his team plan to trial the tool in skin cancer clinics, but he warned that it can only provide an estimate of future risk.

"We encourage people to use it as a general guide, and if it says you have a high risk of melanoma, we strongly encourage you to visit your doctor and discuss whether a skin check would benefit you," he added.


CANCER SCARE Most deadly skin cancers DON’T start in existing moles – here’s how to spot the signs


"Even if you have a low to medium risk, you still need to be sun safe."

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.

In the UK, around 13,300 people a year are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, largely because it tends to spread to the brain and lungs
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Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, largely because it tends to spread to the brain and lungsCredit: Getty Images

It occurs when damage is caused to the skin cells, most often by UV light from the sun or tanning beds.

UVA and UVB rays are the two main UV rays emitted by the sun.

UVA rays account for up to 95 per cent of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

UVA penetrates the inner layer of the skin, called the dermis, and UVB mainly affects the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis.

This damage can trigger mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.

Spotting the early signs of the disease could make all the difference when it comes to survival.

Experts recommend you check you skin for signs of new moles, or existing ones changing, every couple of month.

Piers Morgan chats to Gillian Nuttall from Melanoma UK who told him to get his mole checked out after watching him on TV


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