Skin Cancer

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer with 2.8 million people a year are diagnosed. The incidence of basal cell has been rising. Basal cell most often grows and spreads locally if untreated, but can be very disfiguring if not caught early. These typically appear pink and slightly pearly and may be either flat or raised. They bleed frequently often with very minor trauma and often don’t heal completely.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer with  700,000 cases diagnosed a year. It is more prevalent in organ transplant patients and 2% of people diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma can die from it. These are often scaly patches or warty looking lesions. They often bleed, can be painful and do not heal.

One of the fastest growing age groups developing melanoma are teenagers and young adults who have used tanning beds. This is a public service announcement by a mother whose daughter died of melanoma at a young age due to her chronic use of tanning beds. For the best resources for photos and more information on skin cancers, visit The Skin Cancer Foundation.