Melanoma and Skin Cancer

Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin. There are several types of skin cancer. Skin cancer that forms in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment) is called melanoma. Skin cancer that forms in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin) is called basal cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin) is called squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system) is called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Most skin cancers form in older people on parts of the body exposed to the sun or in people who have weakened immune systems.
-
Estimated new cases and deaths from skin (nonmelanoma) cancer in the United States in 2008:

• New cases: more than 1,000,000
• Deaths: less than 1,000

See the online booklet What You Need To Know About™ Skin Cancer to learn about skin cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and questions to ask the doctor.

What You Need To Know About Moles
Information about common moles and dysplastic nevi, or atypical moles, including pictures and a discussion of how some moles may be related to melanoma. NIH Publication No. 99-3133

Melanoma Home Page
NCI's gateway for information about melanoma.

PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database
Full description of the NCI PDQ database.

Source: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health