What are the types of skin cancer?
There are three main types of skin cancer. These cancers begin in a different type of cell within the skin and each cancer is named for the type of cell in which it begins. The three main types of skin cancer are: • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC). BCC is the most common cancer in humans. BCCs usually appear in sun-exposed areas. These tumors tend to grow slowly and can take years to reach inch in size. While these tumors very rarely metastasize (cancer spreading to other parts of the body), early diagnosis and treatment is encouraged in order to prevent extensive damage to surrounding tissue. • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). While most commonly found on sun-exposed areas of the body, SCC can develop anywhere, including the inside of the mouth and the genitalia. SCC requires early treatment in order to prevent metastasis (cancer spreading to other parts of the body). • Melanoma. This form of skin cancer can be life-threatening because it can rapidly spread to the lymph system and internal o
