There are three main types of cancers of the skin:
Melanoma (also called malignant melanoma) – a form of skin cancer that arises in melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) and that may spread rapidly to other parts of the body if not diagnosed and treated early. A melanoma may begin as a mole. Melanomas are the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the main cause of death from skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): the most common non-melanoma skin cancer. It begins in the lowest layer of the epidermis, called the basal cell layer. It usually develops on sun-exposed areas, especially the head and neck. BCCs are slow-growing and hardly ever spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – a type of cancer that begins in squamous cells – the thin, flat cells that look like fish scales and that are found in the skin and in tissues that line certain organs of the body. Only occasionally do these cancers spread to other tissues. They are the second most common form of skin cancer. |
