Different Kinds of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer was the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2009, according to statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation. There are different kinds of skin cancers, and the most common cause for each of them is sun exposure. The different skin cancers are categorized under three main types.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The basal cells make up the deepest layer of the skin. In 2008, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that out of all skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type, accounting for 8 out of 10 skin cancer diagnoses. They also state that it is most often found on areas of the body that are always exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, and arms. It grows slow and rarely spreads elsewhere in the body unless it is left untreated. In that case, it can spread to other areas of the body beneath the skin, such as the bones and into the lymph nodes. When screening the body for basal cell carcinoma, the ACS says to look for flat, shiny, waxy areas on the skin. If caught early enough, basal cell carcinoma is very treatable.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma develops in the squamous cells of the skin, which are in the upper layers of the epidermis. Like basal cell carcinomas, they are often found on the areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, including ears, neck, and lips. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that they can also develop in skin that is scarred, burned or has open sores. Squamous cell carcinomas tend to spread more than basal cell carcinomas. While rare, they are more likely to advance into fatty tissues of the skin, as well as lymph nodes. When checking your body for changes in skin, the ACS reports that squamous cell carcinomas often start as a small lump with a reddish, rough surface. As with basal cell carcinoma, if caught early, squamous cell carcinoma is quite treatable.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious kind of skin cancer, accounting for 75 percent of all skin cancer related deaths, and it is also the rarest. Melanocytes are the skin cells that are responsible for making the skin pigment, or color. Melanoma develops within the melanocyte cells. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that melanoma is most often diagnosed in fair skinned people, and symptoms are often a mole that begins to ooze or bleed, a mole that changes color, size and texture or one that feels sore to touch. Melanoma is very aggressive and will spread to other organs of the body and lymph nodes if not caught and treated in time.