Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
Types
| Type | What to know |
|---|---|
| Basal cell cancer | one of the two most common; usually on the head, face, neck, hands and arms |
| Squamous cell cancer | the other most common; same usual places |
| Melanoma | less common but more dangerous |
Who is at risk
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who:
- spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned;
- have light-colored skin, hair and eyes;
- have a family member with skin cancer;
- are over 50.
Check early
Have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in how your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work when cancer is found early. Untreated, some types can spread to other tissues and organs.
Treatment
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT): a drug plus a type of laser light kills cancer cells
- Biologic therapy: boosts the body's own ability to fight cancer
Sources
Based on "Skin Cancer," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the NIH National Cancer Institute; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
1
0
0
0
Comments
Read next
Version: 1CC BY-SA 4.0
**Polish** (polski) is the official language of [Poland]( a country of 38.5 million people and is also used by some of the 10 million Polish diaspora around the world. It is understood and can be used for communication in the western parts of [Ukraine]( [Belarus]( and [Lithuania]( Polish is a West S
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
Medicines treat disease, but every medicine carries some risk. Who makes sure they are safe in the U.S., the side effects and interactions to weigh, and extra care in pregnancy and with children.
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
A detached retina is a medical emergency that can cause permanent vision loss. The warning signs — new floaters, flashes, a curtain over your vision — and who is most at risk.
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
Over-the-counter medicines need no prescription, but they still carry risks — interactions, conditions they don't suit, allergies and pregnancy. How to read the label, dose children correctly and know when to stop.
