Skin Cancer

Summary

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who :

• Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
• Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
• Have a family member with skin cancer
• Are over age 50

You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biologic therapy. PDT uses a drug and a type of laser light to kill cancer cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body’s own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Genetics

• 9q22.3 microdeletion: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Gorlin syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Learning about Skin Cancer National Human Genome Research Institute
• Xeroderma pigmentosum: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Related Issues

• Actinic Cheilitis VisualDX
• Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis) VisualDX
• Anyone Can Get Skin Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Risks of Skin Cancer Screening National Cancer Institute
• Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun Food and Drug Administration

Encyclopedia

• Actinic keratosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome Medical Encyclopedia

Statistics and Research

• Advances in Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers Research National Cancer Institute
• For Some Skin Cancers, Targeted Drug Hits the Mark National Cancer Institute
• Melanoma of the Skin Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Skin Cancer American Academy of Dermatology
• What’s New in Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Research? American Cancer Society

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Dermatology American Academy of Dermatology
• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Find a Dermatologic Surgeon American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services National Cancer Institute

Patient Handouts

• Basal cell skin cancer Medical Encyclopedia
• Mohs micrographic surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin self-exam Medical Encyclopedia
• Squamous cell skin cancer Medical Encyclopedia

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Cancer: Putting Health First
• Skin Cancer Diagnosis Highlights Importance of Annual Checks
• Spotting Skin Cancer: Tips from the National Cancer Institute
• Sunscreen in the Winter?

Children

• Childhood Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Childhood Melanoma Treatment National Cancer Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Basal Cell National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Merkel Cell National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Keratosis, Actinic National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Neoplasms National Institutes of Health

Treatments and Therapies

• Cryosurgery to Treat Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Drugs Approved for Skin Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Electrodesiccation VisualDX
• Mohs Micrographic Surgery VisualDX
• Skin Cancer: Treatment Types American Society for Radiation Oncology
• Treatment of Actinic Keratosis National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Merkel Cell Carcinoma) National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Skin Cancer) National Cancer Institute

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• Eyelid Cancer American Society of Clinical Oncology
• General Information about Merkel Cell Carcinoma National Cancer Institute
• Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Sebaceous Carcinoma: Overview American Academy of Dermatology
• Skin Cancer of the Hand and Upper Extremity American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Start Here

• General Information about Skin Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Skin Cancer American Academy of Family Physicians

Living With

• Living as a Basal or Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society

Journal Articles

• Skin Cancer

Diagnosis and Tests

• Skin Biopsy VisualDX
• Skin Cancer Screening National Cancer Institute
• Skin Cancer Screening National Library of Medicine
• Stages of Merkel Cell Carcinoma National Cancer Institute
• Stages of Skin Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers American Cancer Society

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Skin Cancer Prevention National Cancer Institute
• Take Steps to Prevent Skin Cancer Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Skin Cancer? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Images

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) VisualDX