Approximately 3.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022, making it the most common form of cancer in the United States.1 Included in this estimation are patients with basal-cell carcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma, which are the most common types of skin cancer, as well as patients with melanoma, which accounts for approximately 1% of all skin cancers, but is responsible for a large majority of skin cancer–related deaths.2-4 Although the total number and incidence rates of basal-cell carcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma cannot be precisely determined because reporting to cancer registries is not required, it is estimated that they account for less than 0.1% of patient deaths caused by cancer.2,4 However, the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 99,780 individuals will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, and approximately 7650 individuals will die from the disease.3 How much do you know about skin cancer?
The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with a form of skin cancer by age 70 years, and more than 2 individuals will die from skin cancer in the United States every hour.5 There are 3 main types of skin cancer: basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal-cell carcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma, also known as nonmelanoma skin cancers, originate in the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) and rarely spread to other parts of the body.2 Melanoma begins in melanocytes (the cells that give skin its tan or brown color) and is more likely to metastasize.3 Public awareness needs to remain a priority because there are steps that individuals can take to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer or detecting it early to improve clinical outcomes.
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