Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. If left unchecked, these cancer cells can spread from the skin into other tissues and organs.
There are different types of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common. Melanoma is less common, but more dangerous.
The outer layer of skin, the epidermis, is made up of different types of cells. Skin cancers are classified by the types of epidermal cells involved:
Basal cell carcinoma develops from abnormal growth of the cells in the lowest layer of the epidermis and is the most common type of skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma involves changes in the squamous cells, found in the middle layer of the epidermis.
Melanoma occurs in the melanocytes (cells that produce pigment) and is less common than squamous or basal cell carcinoma, but more dangerous. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.
Skin cancers are sometimes classified as either melanoma or nonmelanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common nonmelanoma skin cancers. Other nonmelanoma skin cancers are Kaposi's sarcoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and cutaneous lymphoma.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Unites States. Known risk factors for skin cancer include the following:
Complexion: Skin cancers are more common in people with light-colored skin, hair, and eyes.
Basal cell carcinoma (13 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing form of skin cancer.Rodent ulcer; Skin cancer- basal cell; Cancer- skin- basal cell.Skin cancer is divided into two major groups: non-melanoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin...Reviewer: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/05/2008
Melanoma (13 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.It involves cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin. Reviewer: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/05/2008
Squamous cell skin cancer (8 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Squamous cell skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects the skin.Cancer- skin- squamous cell; Skin cancer- squamous cell.Squamous cell cancer results when cells in the skin start to change. The changes may begin in normal skin or in skin that ha...Reviewer: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/22/2008
Cancer
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(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.Cells are the building blocks of living things. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/02/2008
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