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...“You cannot diagnose what you cannot see.” This quote, from a training course for dermatologists, summarizes a total body skin exam. A total body skin cancer physical exam is a...

...You noticed an unusual mole or lesion on your skin and made an appointment with your doctor to have it checked. Before examining your skin, your doctor will ask questions...

...Cancer screening means checking for cancer before you have any symptoms. Nearly 20% of US adults have been screened at least once for skin cancer. Skin cancer is easier to...

...More than 40% of melanomas are found by patients themselves. Nearly all adults have harmless moles, freckles, and spots on their skin. Skin self exams help you become familiar with...

...Untreated melanoma grows downward into deeper layers of skin. It may enter the lymph vessels and spread to distant parts of the body. The term for the spread of cancer...

...The most common sign of melanoma is a new or changing skin lesion. Typical melanomas are brown or black (pigmented) lesions. Melanomas are often larger than normal moles. They may...

...Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) develops when basal cells begin to grow out of control. Basal cells are found in the top layer of skin, called the epidermis. BCC grows slowly...

...Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) develops when squamous cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. Squamous cells are the flat cells that make up the very top layers of epidermis...

...Actinic keratosis is a precancer, or a skin abnormality that could lead to cancer that forms when cells in the top layer of skin begin to grow abnormally. The most...

...The type of treatment required for skin cancer ranges widely. Your dermatologist may treat a small non-melanoma skin cancer in the office. Large or aggressive tumors could require extensive surgery...

...People with dark skin tones are at risk for developing skin cancer. Skin cancer may be less common than in white persons, but it can be more dangerous. People with...

...Your child’s soft, delicate skin is especially vulnerable to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Skin cancer is very rare in children and young adults. However, childhood sun exposure...

...Young and middle-age white women may be surprised that skin cancer has increased dramatically in their demographic.Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young women.3 One in 44...

...There are some risk factors that are not controllable, and the way certain cancers affect the sexes is one of these. Light-skinned men are more likely than anyone else to...

...The appearance and location of skin cancer can vary in different populations. Risk factors and outcomes differ, too. In particular, there are unique considerations for older white men, younger white...

...When skin cancer is removed and it does not come back, it is considered cured. Recurrence is when the cancer comes back after a period of time. These factors can...

...The majority of skin cancers develop in locations with frequent sun exposure: face, neck, ears, chest, back, arms, and legs. Yet some skin cancers grow in non-sun exposed areas. These...

...Melanoma develops when cells called melanocytes grow out of control. Melanocytes make the pigment that gives skin a tan or brown color. They are in the epidermis, which is the...

...Cancer staging is a way of describing how extensive a cancer is. The stage is related to tumor size. It also relates to whether the cancer has spread from the...

...Melanoma has many different appearances. Becoming familiar with the appearances of melanoma can help you and your doctor detect and treat this cancer in its early stages. Melanomas are classified...