Skin Cancer Types & Treatment Options

Types of Skin Cancer

The three most common types of skin cancer are: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma

• The most common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma forms in the basal cells in the lower part of your epidermis (outer layer of skin). This type of skin cancer usually forms a bump or lump on the surface of the skin.
• There are four main subtypes of basal cell carcinoma: Nodular, Superficial Spreading, Sclerosing, and Pigmented.
• Typically, the most common areas for basal cell carcinomas to appear are on the face, scalp, nose, eyelids, legs, ears, and arms.
• About 75% of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas.

Squamous cell carcinoma

• The second most common skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer starts in the squamous cells that are in the epidermis of the skin.
• About 20% of all skin cancers are this type.

Melanoma

• One of the most serious types of skin cancer, melanoma is a cancer of specialized cells in the skin called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, a brown pigment that gives your skin its color and protects against UV rays.
• Melanoma can appear on any area of your body, including your eyes and mucus membranes. Although melanoma accounts for 1-3% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for a large proportion of deaths from skin cancer.
• Melanoma is one of the most common types of cancer in young people under 30, especially young women.
• Melanoma that is detected very early can be cured with surgery.
• However, melanoma that is not detected early can be dangerous because it can spread to other areas of the body.
• Use the “ABCDE” method to remember the early warning signs of melanoma:
  • Asymmetry – irregular shape.
  • Border – blurry or irregularly shaped edges.
  • Color – mole with more than one color.
  • Diameter – larger than a pencil eraser (6 mm)
  • Evolving – enlarging, changing in shape, color or size (most important sign!)

Other, less common skin cancer types include:

• Kaposi sarcoma
• Merkel cell carcinoma
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma

Stages of Skin Cancer

Melanoma

• Stage 0 (melanoma in situ): melanoma that is limited to the top layer of skin.
• Stage I: The melanoma is low risk and there’s no evidence it has spread. At this stage, melanoma can be cured with surgery.
• Stage II: It has some features that indicate that it’s more likely to come back (recur), but there’s no evidence of spread.
• Stage III: The melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes or nearby skin.
• Stage IV: The melanoma has spread to more distant lymph nodes or skin or has spread to internal organs.

Non-melanoma staging:

• Stage 0: Cancer is only in the top layer of your skin.
• Stage I: Cancer is in the top and middle layers of your skin.
• Stage II: Cancer is in the top and middle layers of your skin and moves to target your nerves or deeper layers of skin.
• Stage III: Cancer has spread beyond your skin to your lymph nodes.
• Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other parts of your body and your organs like the liver, brain or lungs.

Treatment Options:

• Surgical Resection
• Reconstruction after Surgery
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
• Nodal Observation
• Lymph Node Dissection
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted Therapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Clinical Trials