Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Types

Most skin tumors are not cancerous and can be treated in the physician's office or not treated at all. However, if there is any doubt about the type of growth present on the skin, a dermatologist takes a sample, and a dermatopathologist examines the tissue in a laboratory.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is classified into two stages:

• Local — Cancer cells are only found in the skin.
• Metastatic — Malignant cells have invaded nearby tissue or organs.

There are two common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma
  The American Cancer Society reports that 75 percent of all skin cancer cases are diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. This cancer develops in the lower layer of the epidermis, called the basal cell layer. Basal cell carcinoma can appear as a flat or raised, pearly, pink or red area that grows anywhere on the body. Basal cell carcinoma is most commonly found on areas of the body that receive significant exposure to the sun, such as the head and neck. The condition grows slowly, but if left untreated it can spread to nearby tissue or other organs.
• Squamous cell carcinoma
  Twenty percent of skin cancers are diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. This condition develops in the upper regions of the dermis when squamous cells divide abnormally. Squamous cell carcinoma appears as a pink, red or fleshy growth, often with whitish scales on the skin. Areas that receive high levels of sun exposure — such as the head, neck and top of the hands — are likely places for squamous cell carcinoma to develop. It is more likely than basal cell carcinoma to spread to nearby tissue and lymph nodes.

Other less common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer include:

• Cutaneous lymphoma appears as pink, red or purple skin patches that slowly thicken and do not go away.
• Kaposi sarcoma develops as a patch of skin that looks bruised.
• Merkel cell carcinoma is usually found on the face, legs or arms as red-purple lumps.
• Skin adnexal tumors appear as bumps underneath the skin.
• Skin sarcomas appear as large masses under the skin's surface.
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans are characterized by slow-growing, firm nodules covered by dark skin.