Types of Skin Cancer
There are three primary types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancers include Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). The nonmelanomas are the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and its incidence is on the rise in people of all ethnicities and ages.
The majority of nonmelanoma skin cancers and melanomas are caused by the ultraviolet rays of the sun which damage the skin DNA, causing uncontrolled growth of skin cells. The advent and popularity of tanning beds and tanning salons has increased the incidence of all skin cancers, especially in young people. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some time during their lives. Almost all skin cancers are curable if found and treated early.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and the most readily treatable. It grows in the top layer of the skin. BCC is primarily found on skin that received regular sun exposure over years, especially the face, head and neck. Fair skin, tanning, an outdoor occupation and a history of sunburns increases the risk of developing BCC.
People over age 50 are most at risk, but BCC can occur in patients in their teens and 20’s with a history of tanning. Every year almost 3 million Americans (80% of skin cancer cases) are diagnosed with BCC. It is slow growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body but can be locally destructive. BCC is highly curable when treated early. Sometimes it can reoccur. Treatment options depend upon the size, depth and location of the cancer, as well as your general health.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S., accounting for about 20% of skin cancer cases every year. SCC is most often found in fair-skinned individuals. It usually occurs on the skin of the face, ears, lips and back of the hands that is regularly exposed to the sun or tanning beds.
It can develop in scars (especially burn scars) and chronic skin sores. It can develop in areas not normally exposed to the sun including the genitals. SCC is the most common type of skin cancer in African Americans. A family history of SCC or melanoma increases the risk of SCC. Treatment options depend upon the size, depth and location of the cancer, how far it has spread and your general health.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of the pigment-producing melanin cells that give the skin its color. It usually develops in a changing preexisting mole but can develop as what appears to be a new mole. It is the most serious type of skin cancer because if left untreated melanoma can quickly spread to any internal organ (metastasis) and lead to death.
The first signs of melanoma are a change in the color, size, shape and feel of a mole, the ABCD’s of melanoma. However, it can also develop in the mucosa in the mouth, on the lips, or in the eye. Every year melanoma is responsible for 1% of all skin cancer deaths. Melanoma is the most common type of cancer in young people around age 30, and the risk increases with age. Most at risk are light skinned, middle aged individuals with a history of chronic sun exposure and blistering sunburns. Ocular melanoma is the most common type of cancer of the eye.
Melanoma risk factors include sun exposure, multiple moles, a family history of melanoma and a weak immune system. Just one severe sunburn in childhood and adolescence doubles the risk for developing melanoma. The more sunburns, the higher the risk.
Whether you or a loved one have risk factors for melanoma, it is important to schedule an annual skin check with Dr. Heather Higgins. Melanoma was the 5th most frequently occurring and the 16th leading cause of cancer deaths in North Carolina from 2010 to 2014, based on the most currently available information. Don’t wait. Contact Dr. Higgins to schedule a full body skin cancer screening.
