Skin Cancer

Medical Author:

Michael S Lehrer, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Skin Cancer Overview

Skin cancer is the most common of all human cancers. Some form of skin cancer is diagnosed in more than 1 million people in the United States each year.

Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation during which they grow and multiply without normal controls.

As the cells multiply, they form a mass called a tumor. Tumors of the skin are often referred to as lesions.
Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means that they encroach on and invade neighboring tissues because of their uncontrolled growth.
Tumors may also travel to remote organs via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
This process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis.
Tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space and taking the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive and function.

Skin cancers are of three major types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.

The vast majority of skin cancers are BCCs or SCCs. While malignant, these are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. They may be locally disfiguring if not treated early.
A small but significant number of skin cancers are malignant melanomas. Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.

Like many cancers, skin cancers start as precancerous lesions. These precancerous lesions are changes in skin that are not cancer but could become cancer over time. Medical professionals often refer to these changes as dysplasia. Some specific dysplastic changes that occur in skin are as follows:

Actinic keratosis is a patch of red or brown, scaly, rough skin, which can develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
A nevus is a mole, and dysplastic nevi are abnormal moles. These can develop into melanoma over time.

Moles (nevi) are simply growths on the skin. They are very common. Very few moles become cancer.

Most people have 10-40 moles on their body.
Moles can be flat or raised; some begin as flat and become raised over time.
The surface is usually smooth.
Moles are round or oval and no larger than ¼-inch across.
Moles are usually pink, tan, brown, or the same color as the skin. Other colors are sometimes noted.
An individual's moles usually look pretty much alike. A mole that looks different from the others should be examined by your health-care provider.

Dysplastic nevi are not cancer, but they can become cancer.

People with dysplastic nevi often have a lot of them, perhaps as many as 100 or more.
People with many dysplastic nevi are more likely to develop melanoma, either within an existing nevus or on an area of normal skin.
Dysplastic nevi are usually irregular in shape, with notched or fading borders.
Dysplastic nevi may be flat or raised, and the surface may be smooth or rough ("pebbly").
Dysplastic nevi are often large, ¼-inch across or even larger.
Dysplastic nevi are typically of mixed color, including pink, red, tan, and brown.

Recent studies demonstrate that the number of skin cancer cases in the United States is growing at an alarming rate. Fortunately, increased awareness on the part of Americans and their health-care providers has resulted in earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes.

Skin Cancer Causes»

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Glossary

Skin Cancer Topic Guide

Must Read Articles Related to Skin Cancer

Common Health Tests Common health tests may be performed in your doctor's office or even in the pharmacy. Regular health checks and screening for certain diseases and conditions ha...learn more >>

Mole Removal Moles may be removed using excision and stitches or excision and cauterization. Risks of mole removal include infection, nerve damage, and anesthetic allergy. L...learn more >>

Skin Biopsy Your doctor may want to obtain a sample of skin in order to diagnose diseases of the skin, such as those caused by bacteria, fungi, or other chronic skin condit...learn more >>

See the Entire Skin Cancer Topic Guide »