Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer affects more than 3 million Americans each year, making it the most common type of cancer. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The 4 types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell cancer, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer while squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer.

Statistics
Around 5.4 million cases of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed annually. About 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. 2,000 people die from basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer each year. 

Risk Factors And Symptoms

  • Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
  • Indoor tanning
  • Fair skin
  • Race, or ethnicity (whiter people than black)
  • Age (above 65)
  • Weakened or suppressed immune system
  • Merkel cell polyomavirus
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Precancerous skin conditions (rough, red, or brown scaly patches on the skin, called actinic keratoses or Bowen's disease)
    Gender (male)
  • A history of sunburns or fragile skin
  • Previous skin cancers
  • Inherited syndromes (Gorlin syndrome, Rombo, Bazex-Dupré-Christol, and epidermolysis bullosa simplex syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum, albinism, epidermolysis bullosa simplex, etc.)
  • Arsenic exposure
  • Medications

Symptoms include an open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts, a reddish, raised patch or irritated area that may crust or itch, but rarely hurts, shiny pink, red, pearly white, or translucent bump, pink growth with an elevated border and crusted central indentation, scar-like, white, yellow, or waxy area, often with a poorly defined border, wart-like growth, persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that may bleed easily, raised growth with a rough surface and a central depression.

Prevention

  • Avoid recreational sun tanning outdoors
  • Use indoor tanning beds
  • Wear sun-protective clothing
  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen

Treatment
Targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy are the treatment options.


Fighting Cancer Desk
Fighting Cancer Desk