Information on Different Skin Cancers

Skin cancer develops in the tissues of the skin and appears most often in sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck. There are three primary types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Each type of skin cancer is named after the type of cell in which it forms. The symptoms and treatment of skin cancer depend on the type of cancer present and the patient's overall health. Most cases of skin cancer can be prevented by wearing sunscreen and limiting exposure to the sun's UV rays, according to the American Cancer Society.

Significance

• The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 1 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancers will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2009. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five people in the United States will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, and skin cancer cases exceed the number of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers diagnosed each year. More than 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are linked to sun exposure, which is a completely preventable risk factor.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Basal cell skin cancer primarily affects those with light eyes, hair and skin, and accounts for 90 percent of all skin cancers. When it develops on the head, hands or neck, it usually appears as a fleshy or pearly bump. When the cancer develops on the trunk, it may appear as a light-colored, flat mole. Basal cell carcinoma forms in the basal cells of the top layer of the skin, grows slowly and is highly treatable. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that basal cell carcinoma has a cure rate of 90 percent when treated surgically.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• More than a quarter of a million people in the United States are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma every year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Squamous cell cancer most often develops on the ears, face, mouth and lips. It may spread to other areas of the body, and is typically more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma. The cancer generally appears as red and scaly skin patches or small nodules. Men are twice as likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma as women.

Malignant Melanoma

• Malignant melanoma is a potentially fatal form of skin cancer that forms in the melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing melanin. It primarily affects adults, but is sometimes diagnosed in children and teenagers. Melanoma most often appears on the skin, but it can also affect the mouth, eyes, large intestine, vagina and internal organs. Those most at risk include people with light hair, eyes and skin, those with a family or personal history of melanoma, anyone with many normal moles or dysplastic nevi and anyone with a history of prolonged sun exposure or sunburns. Melanoma may develop in an existing mole. Symptoms include changes in the size, color or shape of a mole, bleeding moles, and itchy, hard or tender lumps on or beneath the surface of the skin. Malignant melanoma accounts for 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths, according to the University of Maryland.

Treatment

• Treatment of skin cancer depends on the patient's overall health and age, and on the type and extent of the cancer. Surgery to remove the cancerous growth is a common treatment for all types of skin cancer, and may include cryosurgery, electrodessication and curettage, laser therapy or simple excision to cut away the cancer and a margin of healthy tissue. Radiation, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and immunotherapy may be helpful in some cases. In cases of metastatic melanoma, treatment focuses on finding and treating both the primary melanoma tumor and any new tumors that have developed in other organs.