SKIN CANCER FACTS AND FIGURES

Skin Cancer Facts - Did You Know?

  • Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. About 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed in this country each year. Melanoma, a more dangerous type of skin cancer, will account for more than 73,000 cases of skin cancer in 2015.5

  • If you added the number of the big four cancers (breast, colon, prostate, and lung) it still doesn’t equal half the number of cases of skin cancer.

  • Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.1,2

  • Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.7

  • While melanoma in children is extremely rare, from 1973 to 2009, the rate of melanoma increased by about 2 percent per year among Caucasian children from newborn to age 19 in the United States.3

  • Basal and squamous cancers start in the basal and squamous cells, found in the outer layer of the skin, which is where they get their name. Most basal and squamous cell cancers develop on sun-exposed areas of the skin, like the face, ears, neck, lips, and the backs of the hands. Basal cell cancers tend to grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell cancers are more likely to grow into deeper layers of skin and to spread, although this is still not common. Both basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers can be cured if found and treated early – when they are small and have not spread. But either type can cause problems if it is left untreated.

  • Squamous cell carcinomas: A persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that sometimes crusts or bleeds.11

  • Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the melanocytes – the cells that make the brown skin pigment known as melanin, which gives the skin its color. Melanin helps protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Melanoma can start on nearly any part of the skin, even in places that are not normally exposed to the sun, such as the genital or anal areas. Though melanoma most often affects the skin (including under the nails), it can also start in other parts of the body, such as in the eyes or mouth. Melanoma is almost always curable when it’s found in its very early stages. Although melanoma accounts for only a small percentage of skin cancers, it’s much more likely to grow and spread to other parts of the body, where it can be hard to treat. Because of this, melanoma causes most skin cancer deaths, accounting for nearly 10,000 of the more than 13,000 skin cancer deaths each year.5

Skin Cancer Facts - Risk Factors

  • Exposure to UV light from the sun or from artificial sources (like tanning beds) is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers.

  • Seek shade, wear broad spectrum UPF protective clothing and use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

  • Because severe sunburns during childhood may increase one’s risk of melanoma, children should be especially protected from the sun.5

  • People should not use tanning beds or sunlamps, which are sources of artificial UV radiation that may cause skin cancer.5

  • Skin cancer warning signs include changes in size, shape or color of a mole or other skin lesion, the appearance of a new growth on the skin, or a sore that doesn’t heal. If you notice any spots on your skin that are different from the others, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, seek medical attention.

  • Perform skin self-exams to check for signs of skin cancer and get a skin exam from a doctor. A dermatologist can make individual recommendations as to how often a person needs these exams based on risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure and family history.

  • Individuals with a history of melanoma should have a full-body exam by a board-certified dermatologist at least annually and perform regular self-exams to check for new and changing moles.10

*Sources

  1. Stern RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based model.
    Arch Dermatol. 2010 Mar;146(3):279-82.

  2. Robinson JK. Sun Exposure, Sun Protection, and Vitamin D. JAMA 2005; 294: 1541-43.

  3. Wong JR, Harris JK, Rodriguez-Galindo C, et al. Incidence of Childhood and Adolescent Melanoma in the United States: 1973. Pediatrics Vol. 131 No. 5 May 1, 2013; pp. 846 -854 doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-2520.

  4. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2014. Atlanta: American Cancer Society 2014

  5. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2015. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2015.

  6. Wehner M, Chren M-M, Nameth D, et al. International prevalence of indoor tanning: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol 2014; 150(4):390-400. Doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6896.

  7. Melanoma of the Skin, Cancer Fact Sheets, National Cancer Institute, SEER database, 2007. http://seer.cancer.gov

  8. Gandini S, Sera F, Cattaruzza MS, Pasquini P, Picconi O, Boyle P, Melchi CF. Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: II. Sun exposure. Eur J Cancer. 2005 Jan;41(1):45-60.

  9. Song F, Qureshi AA, Giovannucci EL, et al. (2013) Risk of a Second Primary Cancer after Non-melanoma Skin Cancer in White Men and Women: A Prospective Cohort Study. PLoS Med 10(4): e1001433. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001433

  10. Berg A. Screening for skin cancer. US Preventive Services Task Force, 2007.

  11. Skin Cancer Foundation, Warning Signs and Images, 2015

  12. Cancer Research UK, September 2014