Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but most skin cancer is curable. Skin cancer has increased in incidence over the last decade, especially in sun-exposed areas. There are three common types, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common. They occur mainly on sun exposed areas in fair skinned individuals and may start as early as the first decade of life. Most are slow growing and small: and rather than spreading by metastasis to distant organs they usually invade and destroy surrounding tissues. Most doctors can diagnose a basal cell carcinoma just by looking at it. Removing these carcinomas early is completely curative, and has no underwriting consequences.

Squamous cell carcinomas are cancers that start in the middle layer of epidermal skin, and occur in sun- exposed areas of people who sunburn easily. Most only affect areas in direct proximity, but up to 5% can spread to distant organs. Squamous cell carcinomas of the lip, oral cavity and tongue have higher rates of spread and must be treated much more aggressively.

Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the pigment producing cells of the skin. They are often cancerous. The warning signs that a mole may be a melanoma are enlarging pigmented spots (usually black or dark blue), and changes in the color of an existing mole. The less deeply a melanoma grows into skin, the more curable it is.

The information contained on this page is not intended to provide medical advice, which should be obtained directly from your physician.