

Skin cancer is most commonly seen in sun-exposed areas of your skin - your face (including your lips), ears, neck, arms, chest, upper back, hands and legs. Have been exposed to ultraviolet light therapy for treating skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.Take medications that suppress or weaken your immune system.Have actinic keratosis (precancerous skin growths that are rough, scaly, dark pink-to-brown patches).Have many moles or irregular-shaped moles.Have light-colored eyes, blond or red hair and fair or freckled skin.Live in a sunny or high-altitude climate.Get easily sunburned have a history of sunburns.Spend a considerable amount of time working or playing in the sun.

Some 25% of melanoma cases in African Americans are diagnosed when cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.Īlthough anyone can develop skin cancer, you’re at increased risk if you: Skin cancer in people with skin of color is often diagnosed in later stages when it’s more difficult to treat.Non-Hispanic white persons have almost a 30 times higher rate of skin cancer than non-Hispanic Black or Asian/Pacific Islander persons.The good news is that the five-year survival rate is 99% if caught and treated early. Having five or more sunburns in your life doubles your chance of developing melanoma.Approximately 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.Around 20% of Americans develop skin cancer sometime in their life.Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. This is why it is important to take a few safeguards and to talk with your healthcare provider if you think you have any signs of skin cancer. If left untreated or caught in a late-stage, melanomas are more likely to spread to organs beyond the skin, making them difficult to treat and potentially life-limiting.įortunately, if skin cancer is identified and treated early, most are cured. Melanoma is not as common as basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas but is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. There are three main types of skin cancer:īasal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer and are sometimes called “non-melanoma skin cancer.” Skin cancer is often caused by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure from the sun. This collection of cells may be noncancerous (benign), which don’t spread or cause harm, or cancerous, which may spread to nearby tissue or other areas in your body if not caught early and treated. When this process doesn’t work as it should, a rapid growth of cells (some of which may be abnormal cells) results. Normally, new skin cells form when cells grow old and die or when they become damaged. Skin cancer happens when skin cells grow and multiply in an uncontrolled, unorderly way.
