What are the different types of skin cancer?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:The vast majority of skin cancers -- 90% of the roughly 550,000 reported cases of skin cancers each year -- are of two types: basal cell cancers, and squamous cell cancers. Even though these are rarely fatal and can usually be removed surgically without major aging repercussions, these skin cancers are often disfiguring. However, there is a third type of skin cancer that is much more insidious. Malignant melanomas are very serious and can be fatal. Approximately 54,000 cases are reported each year.
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The vast majority of skin cancers -- 90% of the roughly 550,000 reported cases of skin cancers each year -- are of two types: basal cell cancers, and squamous cell cancers. Even though these are rarely fatal and can usually be removed... More -
Riverside Cancer Care Center answered:Skin cancers are named for the type of cells that become cancerous. The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. These cancers usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. These areas are exposed to the sun. But skin cancer can occur anywhere.
Basal cell skin cancer grows slowly. It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun. It is most common on the face. Basal cell cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell skin cancer also occurs on parts of the skin that have been in the sun. But it also may be in places that are not in the sun. Squamous cell cancer sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and organs inside the body.If skin cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new growth has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary growth. It is still called skin cancer.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
Skin cancers are named for the type of cells that become cancerous. The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. These cancers usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. These areas are exposed... More -
Dr. Kelly Traver answered:Types of skin cancers include:
- Squamous cell
- Basal cell
- Melanoma, which is the most serious skin cancer
If detected early, melanoma can be treated successfully.
Types of skin cancers include: Squamous cell Basal cell Melanoma, which is the most serious skin cancer If detected early, melanoma can be treated successfully. More -
RealAge answered:The two major classes of skin cancers are malignant melanoma, which affects the cells of the skin that produce pigment, and which is typically the most deadly; and nonmelanoma skin cancer, which is more common but less deadly than malignant melanoma. All but 1% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
Take the RealAge Test!The two major classes of skin cancers are malignant melanoma, which affects the cells of the skin that produce pigment, and which is typically the most deadly; and nonmelanoma skin cancer, which is more common but less deadly than malignant... More -
HealthyWomen answered:There are two main groups of skin cancer: nonmelanoma skin cancer, the most common type of skin cancer, and melanoma (sometimes referred to as "malignant melanoma") skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancers. There more than 1 million cases each year in the United States. These types of cancer start in the skin's basal cell layer or squamous cell layer. Men are at higher risk than women for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Melanoma is the least common but most aggressive of the three most common types of skin cancer. Melanoma originates in the skin's melanocytes—the cells that produce pigment, or melanin. Melanoma typically appears in or around a mole, but it may also develop on clear skin. It may be a flat, brown, black or tan spot or a raised bump. Unlike a noncancerous mole, melanoma often is irregularly shaped.
About 68,720 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 2009—less than 5 percent of all diagnosed skin cancers. But melanoma accounts for a large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the ACS.
There are two main groups of skin cancer: nonmelanoma skin cancer, the most common type of skin cancer, and melanoma (sometimes referred to as "malignant melanoma") skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most... More
