Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBasal Cell CarcinomaSquamous Cell CarcinomaMelanomaMerkel Cell Carcinoma
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Skin cancer can be deadly, but the survival rates for most cases are good when the disease is detected and treated early. The type of skin cancer matters, though. Some, especially melanoma, are more aggressive than others.
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How Common Is Skin Cancer?It is estimated that one in five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life.
How Common Is Skin Cancer?
It is estimated that one in five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life.
Basal cell carcinoma(BCC) is the most frequently occurring of all cancers and is the most common skin cancer. More than 4 million cases are diagnosed every year in the United States.
Basal cells are one of the three types of cells found in the top layer of the skin. BCC typically occurs due to damage from sun exposure or from ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure from indoor tanning. This triggers abnormal and uncontrollable growth of the basal cells.
Although BCC is relatively slow-growing and doesn’t usually spread to surrounding areas, it can metastasize if left untreated.
How Often Does BCC Spread?Metastasis is rare with BCC, occurring in between 0.0028 and 0.55% of all cases. When it does occur, the lymph nodes, lungs, and bone are the most common sites of metastasis.
How Often Does BCC Spread?
Metastasis is rare with BCC, occurring in between 0.0028 and 0.55% of all cases. When it does occur, the lymph nodes, lungs, and bone are the most common sites of metastasis.
If BCC remains localized, there is a five-year survival rate of 100%. If BCC metastasizes, the outcomes are generally poor with median survival times ranging from eight months to 3.5 years.
What Is Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. Squamous cells are found near the surface of the skin. SCC occurs when damage to DNA occurs through exposure to UV radiation and triggers abnormal, fast growth of squamous cells. This can occur due to heavy exposure to the sun.
SCCs can present as:
Affected skin most commonly occurs in areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun.
Although SCC is relatively slow-growing, it is slightly more likely to metastasize than BCC.
How Often Does SCC Spread?Studies suggest that around 1.4% of people with SCC will experience metastasis.
How Often Does SCC Spread?
Studies suggest that around 1.4% of people with SCC will experience metastasis.
As with SCC, the five-year survival rate is high—hovering around 99%—in the absence of metastasis. With metastasis, the three-year survival is roughly 29% in women and 46% in men.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risks and Diagnosis
Melanomais a cancer that begins in skin cells called melanocytes, which give skin color. Melanoma may take the appearance of a mole, even in parts of the skin not exposed to the sun.
Melanoma is less common than SCC and BCC, but it is more dangerous because it can spread rapidly to other organs if not treated early.
Risk factors for melanoma include:
When treated in the earliest stages, nearly 99% of people with melanoma will experience remission.That figure quickly drops when there is regional and distant spread.
What Is Melanoma?
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. About 2,000 cases of MCC are diagnosed in the United States each year.
MCC tumors can appear on areas of the skin exposed to the sun, but not in all instances. They can appear as pimple-like lumps and can be skin-colored, purple, red, or bluish-red. Their rapid growth is often what draws attention to them.
Risk factors for MCC include:
How Often Does MCC Spread?Around one-third to one-half of people with MCC will experience metastasis, most commonly to the brain, lungs, liver, or bones.
How Often Does MCC Spread?
Around one-third to one-half of people with MCC will experience metastasis, most commonly to the brain, lungs, liver, or bones.
Treatment options for MCC vary based on the stage of the disease and how healthy a patient is overall. Treatment options include:
A Word From Verywell
A diagnosis of skin cancer can be overwhelming. Survival statistics are based on everyone who has a disease—regardless of their age, overall health, or other factors that might positively or negatively influence survival. Early diagnosis and preventative measures like practicing sun safety can improve outcomes and odds of survival.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for melanoma skin cancer.Guy GP, Thomas CC, Thompson T, et al.Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep;64(21):591-596.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basel cell carcinoma overview.Mehta KS, Mahajan VK, Chauhan PS, et al.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: a biological continuum of basal cell carcinoma?Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine. 2012;2012:1-4. doi:10.1155/2012/157187Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma.Skin Cancer Foundation.How serious is a squamous cell carcinoma?Ames FC, Hickey RC.Metastasis from squamous cell skin cancer of the extremities.Southern Medical Journal. 1982;75(8):920-923. doi:10.1097/00007611-198208000-00005American Cancer Society.What is melanoma skin cancer?American Cancer Society.Risk factors for melanoma skin cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: melanoma of the skin.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for merkel cell carcinoma.Paulson KG, Park SY, Vandeven NA, et al.Merkel cell carcinoma: Current US incidence and projected increases based on changing demographics.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(3):457-463.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.028
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for melanoma skin cancer.Guy GP, Thomas CC, Thompson T, et al.Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep;64(21):591-596.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basel cell carcinoma overview.Mehta KS, Mahajan VK, Chauhan PS, et al.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: a biological continuum of basal cell carcinoma?Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine. 2012;2012:1-4. doi:10.1155/2012/157187Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma.Skin Cancer Foundation.How serious is a squamous cell carcinoma?Ames FC, Hickey RC.Metastasis from squamous cell skin cancer of the extremities.Southern Medical Journal. 1982;75(8):920-923. doi:10.1097/00007611-198208000-00005American Cancer Society.What is melanoma skin cancer?American Cancer Society.Risk factors for melanoma skin cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: melanoma of the skin.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for merkel cell carcinoma.Paulson KG, Park SY, Vandeven NA, et al.Merkel cell carcinoma: Current US incidence and projected increases based on changing demographics.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(3):457-463.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.028
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for melanoma skin cancer.Guy GP, Thomas CC, Thompson T, et al.Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep;64(21):591-596.Skin Cancer Foundation.Basel cell carcinoma overview.Mehta KS, Mahajan VK, Chauhan PS, et al.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: a biological continuum of basal cell carcinoma?Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine. 2012;2012:1-4. doi:10.1155/2012/157187Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma.Skin Cancer Foundation.How serious is a squamous cell carcinoma?Ames FC, Hickey RC.Metastasis from squamous cell skin cancer of the extremities.Southern Medical Journal. 1982;75(8):920-923. doi:10.1097/00007611-198208000-00005American Cancer Society.What is melanoma skin cancer?American Cancer Society.Risk factors for melanoma skin cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: melanoma of the skin.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for merkel cell carcinoma.Paulson KG, Park SY, Vandeven NA, et al.Merkel cell carcinoma: Current US incidence and projected increases based on changing demographics.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(3):457-463.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.028
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Melanoma of the skin statistics.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for melanoma skin cancer.
Guy GP, Thomas CC, Thompson T, et al.Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep;64(21):591-596.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basel cell carcinoma overview.
Mehta KS, Mahajan VK, Chauhan PS, et al.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: a biological continuum of basal cell carcinoma?Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine. 2012;2012:1-4. doi:10.1155/2012/157187
Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma.
Skin Cancer Foundation.How serious is a squamous cell carcinoma?
Ames FC, Hickey RC.Metastasis from squamous cell skin cancer of the extremities.Southern Medical Journal. 1982;75(8):920-923. doi:10.1097/00007611-198208000-00005
American Cancer Society.What is melanoma skin cancer?
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for melanoma skin cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: melanoma of the skin.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for merkel cell carcinoma.
Paulson KG, Park SY, Vandeven NA, et al.Merkel cell carcinoma: Current US incidence and projected increases based on changing demographics.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(3):457-463.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.028
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