Skin Cancer & Melanoma

Both Basal Cell and Squamous Cell cancers often develop on areas of the skin that gets the greatest exposure to the sun (face, head and neck areas, arms and hands).

Melanoma develops deeper in the skin in the melanocytes. These damages cells can develop anywhere on the body but are most commonly seen on the back and chest of men, and on women’s legs. They are also seen on the head and neck.

Some risk factors for skin cancer include:

Exposure: History of sunburns especially at younger ages, or exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds at any age put a person at an increased risk.

Skin & hair color: People with fair skin, freckling or red or blond hair have a higher risk.

Moles: Certain types of moles and large number of moles increase a person’s chance of getting melanoma.

Age: Chances of being diagnosed with skin cancer increase with age, however damage done to the skin by the sun’s harmful rays begins at a very young age as soon as skin is exposed to the sun.

Gender: Women have a higher risk of being diagnosed before the age of 50, and men are at a higher risk of being diagnosed after the age of 50. After age 65, the rates for men are double compared to women, and triples by age 80.

Family History: Having a personal or family history of skin cancer can increase a person’s risk for developing the disease.

Some signs and symptoms of skin cancer or melanoma can be identified by using the ABCDE’s of skin cancer: