TDC Health News

With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Thus good sun protection prevents many skin cancers. One should apply at least an SPF 30 to any sun exposed areas. The two most common mistakes people make are not using enough sunscreen and not reapplying. One needs to reapply sunscreen every 80-90 minutes.

The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanomas are an ugly duckling spot, something that looks different than all of ones other spots. They often are new lesions but some develop from existing moles. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, or red. Look for the ABCDE signs of melanoma. Look for Asymmetry, irregular Borders, irregular Color, a Diameter greater than a pencil eraser and most importantly a new or Evolving mole.If you see one or more, make an appointment with a dermatologist immediately.

If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable. If it is not, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes difficult to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. It is estimated that about 91,270 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2018 (about 55,150 in men and 36,120 in women). About 9,320 people are expected to die of melanoma in 2018 (about 5,990 men and 3,330 women).

Nonmelanoma skin cancers such as squamous and basal cell carcinoma are much more common. Nonmelanoma skin cancer is caused by cumulative ultraviolet (UV) exposure over the course of a lifetime; daily year-round exposure to the sun's UV light, intense exposure in the summer months, and the UV produced by tanning beds. Nonmelanoma skin cancers are most common in areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Squamous cell carcinomas look like scaly red patches, open sores, or elevated growths. They often are crusted, bleeding or painful. They can become disfiguring and sometimes deadly if allowed to grow. More than 1 million cases of squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and (depending on different estimates) as many as 8,800 people die from the disease.

Basal cell carcinomas often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars. Basal cell carcinoma almost never spreads (metastasizes) beyond the original tumor site. Only in exceedingly rare cases can it spread to other parts of the body and become life threatening. It shouldn't be taken lightly, though: it can be disfiguring if not treated promptly. More than 4 million cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. In fact, BCC is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers.

Learn more about the ABCDEs of Melanoma »