Skin Cancer Prevalence & Types

More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are reported each year in the United States alone. It can occur at any age and on any part of the body, but some people are more at risk for developing certain types of skin cancer than others. There are three main types of skin cancer and most are treatable.

Types

• Skin cancer can occur on both healthy skin and damaged skin tissues, and can develop fairly rapidly after its initial appearance on the skin. Types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Prevalence

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, and accounts for about 80 to 90 percent of all skin cancer cases in the United States.
  According to the American Academy of Dermatology, squamous cell carcinoma affects approximately 200,000 people in the United States every year.
  Melanoma is the most rare type of skin cancer but also the most deadly; it accounts for 75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer, and can occur at any age.

Identification

• Basal cell carcinoma forms in small cells in the base of the epidermal layer of the skin. This type of skin cancer usually has a pearly white, glossy appearance, and typically appears in an area that has been overexposed to sunlight.
  Squamous cell carcinoma appears as a flat cell on the surface of the skin and appears as red, scaly patches that can turn into small nodules. This type of cancer can occur on parts of the body that have not been exposed to sunlight.
  Melanoma is considered to be a black tumor. This type of cancer often appears as a mole or freckle that has an irregular shape, becomes lumpy or swollen, or starts to bleed.

Treatment

• Early detection is essential for stopping the development and spread of each type of cancer, but when skin cancer is detected there are some effective treatment options available. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can be treated with a shave biopsy, punch biopsy procedure or surgical excision using a scalpel to remove the damaged cells.

  Melanoma can only be treated after performing a biopsy, and then surgical excision. Melanomas cannot be cauterized or shaved off, as this may cause the cancer to spread.

Causes

• The development of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma can affect people of all ages and skin types, but some people are genetically more at risk for developing skin cancer than others. Skin cancer is far more likely to occur in whites than in African Americans.
  People who spend a lot of time outdoors and in direct sunlight increase their chances of developing all types of skin cancer. The most common causes of skin cancer include overexposure to ultraviolet rays from tanning beds or sunbathing under direct sunlight without protecting the skin with sunscreen.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for developing different types of skin cancer include: having fair skin that develops freckles easily; living close to the equator; having skin that sunburns easily; spending time outside between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; not using skin products with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15; and having blonde hair, blue eyes along with a light skin tone.