Skin Cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer and several less common types. The main types are:

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common skin cancer and the most common cancer. This type of skin cancer occurs about 1 million times a year and usually is found on the sun exposed areas of the body. Studies show that basal cell carcinoma is linked to the type of chronic sun exposure that construction workers are often subject to. The damaging effects of the sun are cumulative over time. You can think of the skin as a copy machine. It makes trillions of copies of its cells daily. The sun has an effect that damages the copying mechanism (DNA). After a while, the copies become "unreadable" and a cancer occurs. Once some cells become "unreadable" and turn to cancer, others in the surrounding area that have also been exposed to the same amount of sun become cancer as well. Many patients ask "why am I suddenly getting all these basal cell carcinomas?". The answer is the "threshold" effect. Once the "threshold" of sun exposure is reached, many cancers can occur. The best way to prevent basal cell carcinoma is sun avoidance and the use of a powerful sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Even those with basal cell carcinoma can reduce their risk of getting more by practicing sun avoidance and sunscreen use. Basal cell carcinoma looks like a pearly papule or a red, scaly patch. The lesion is usually persistant and may bleed.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The second most common skin cancer, occurring about 400,000 times each year. This type of skin cancer usually looks like a crusted, red lesion. It may also present as a fast growing dome shaped nodule. Often, there are many smaller, crusted areas nearby that are called actinic keratoses. Actinic keratoses, if left untreated can become squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma has a higher liklihood of spread into the body, especially when it occurs on the head and neck. Lesions of the lips are notably higher risk. As with basal cell carcinoma, avoiding sun and using sunscreen are your best bets at prevention.

Melanoma

The most deadly of skin cancers. This type occurs about 100,000 times per year and is rapidly becoming more prevalent. One of the reasons melanoma is found more commonly is that the dermatologic community has undertaken a massive public education campaign to raise awareness with respect to melanoma. Now, many more melanomas are found at earlier stages and can be cured by complete removal. See the section on moles for information on how you can look at your moles more carefully. Melanoma has multiple risk factors, but studies show that intermittent and intense sun exposure to untanned skin, the type typically occuring on the weekend in folks who have office jobs during the week. This exposure of relatively unprotected skin seems to trigger damage to the cell's building blocks in such a way as to increase the risk for melanoma. There had been some reports that much of one's sun exposure occurred before the age of 18 that led some people to believe that since the "damage was done" they did not have to worry about sun exposure as adults. Recently, that theory has been challenged by studies showing that less than 25% of lifetime sun exposure occurrs before the age of 18. This highlights the importance of reducing sun exposure and wearing sunscreen throughout life to reduce the risk of skin cancer.