Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It usually starts on parts of the skin that get a lot of sun, such as the face, arms, and neck—but it can occur anywhere on the body. The main types of skin cancer are non-melanoma (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) and melanoma. Some types grow slowly, while others can spread quickly if not detected early.

PEN has content for this type of skin cancer:

• Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Other types of skin cancer include:

• Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that happens when special cells in the skin, called melanocytes, start to grow out of control. These cells normally give your skin its color, but when they become cancerous, they can form a spot or mole that looks different from the rest. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body if it’s not found early, which makes it more serious than other types of skin cancer. Anyone can get melanoma, but spending a lot of time in the sun or using tanning beds increases the risk.
  • Signs of Melanoma:
    • A new spot or mole on the skin that looks different
    • A mole that changes in size, shape, or color
    • A sore that doesn’t heal
    • Itching, bleeding, or pain in a mole
  • Treatment: Doctors treat melanoma by removing the cancerous spot with surgery. If the cancer has spread, other treatments like immunotherapy, targeted medicine, or chemotherapy might be used. When melanoma is found early, it can often be cured. That’s why checking your skin regularly and protecting it from the sun is very important.