3 Most Common Types of Skin Cancer and Treatments Explained

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer?¹ In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.²

In this article, we explore the most common types of skin cancer and possible treatment options for a disease that affects so many of us.

What Is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that's usually caused by the sun's harmful rays.³ When mutations occur in the DNA of skin cells, the cells grow out of control and form a mass of cancer cells.⁴

The type of skin cancer someone gets is determined by where the cancer begins.³ While skin cancer develops most often on skin that's been exposed to the sun or ultraviolet light, it can also be found in places that don't typically see the light of day.⁴ Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones.⁴

Skin cancer begins in the epidermis, your skin's top layer. The epidermis contains three main types of cells:⁴

• Squamous cells.
• Basal cells.
• Melanocytes.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are three major types of skin cancer:⁴

1. Basal cell carcinoma.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma.
3. Melanoma.

1. Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for 80% of all skin cancer cases.⁵ It often looks like a flesh-colored round growth, a pearl-like bump or a pinkish patch of skin.³ While this type of skin cancer can form anywhere on the body, it usually appears on the head, neck and arms,³ and can develop after years of frequent sun exposure or indoor tanning.³ In addition, people who have received radiation treatment for skin conditions such as eczema and acne may have an increased risk of this type of skin cancer.⁴

2. Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer, accounting for 19 percent of all skin cancer cases.⁵ It often looks like a firm red bump, a scaly patch or a sore that heals and then reopens.³ This type of skin cancer develops most often on areas that get frequent sun exposure, such as the face, neck, ears, arms, chest and back,³ it can also develop from precancerous skin growths called actinic keratoses, which look like rough, scaly patches that range from brown to dark pink.⁴ People who get actinic keratoses typically have fair skin that's been damaged by the sun.⁴

3. Melanoma

Melanoma only accounts for 1% of all skin cancer cases, but it's the most dangerous form of skin cancer.⁵ That's because it has a tendency to spread to other parts of the body.³ It can develop within an existing mole or appear suddenly as a new dark spot on the skin.³ In men, this type of skin cancer most often appears on the face or the torso; in women, it most often develops on the lower legs.⁴ In people with darker skin, Melanoma tends to occur on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.⁴

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

It's important to check your skin for suspicious changes in order to detect skin cancer at its earliest stages. For all types of skin cancer, early detection gives you the greatest chance of successful treatment.⁴

This is particularly critical for melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Use the ABCDE warning signs to help you find an early melanoma:⁶

• Asymmetry. One half of the spot is unlike the other half.
• Border. The spot has an irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.
• Color. The spot has varying colors from one area to the next.
• Diameter. While melanomas are usually greater than six millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser), they can be smaller when diagnosed.
• Evolving. The spot is changing in size, shape or color.

If you see any new spots on your skin, spots that are different from others or spots that are changing, itching or bleeding, make an appointment with a dermatologist.⁶

Diagnosing Skin Cancer

To diagnose skin cancer, your doctor or dermatologist may perform a biopsy, which involves removing a sample of suspicious skin for lab testing. A biopsy can determine any presence or type of skin cancer you may have.⁷

If you have a superficial skin cancer like basal cell carcinoma, a biopsy that removes the entire growth is often the only test needed to determine the extent of the cancer. But if you have a large squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, your doctor may recommend further testing to determine the cancer stage. Additional tests may include imaging to examine the nearby lymph nodes for signs of cancer, or a procedure to remove a nearby lymph node and test it for signs of cancer (known as sentinel lymph node biopsy).⁷

Roman numerals I through IV indicate the stage of the cancer. Stage I cancers are small and limited to the area where they began, while stage IV cancers spread to other areas of the body.⁷ The stage helps determine which skin cancer treatment options will be most effective.⁷ Early diagnosis is important because when caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable.³

Common Skin Cancer Surgeries

Surgery is the most frequent treatment for skin cancer, though treatment varies depending on the type, location and stage of the cancer.⁸ Take a look at four common types of surgery:

1. Curettage and electrodesiccation

In this procedure, the doctor removes the skin cancer by scraping it with a curette — a long, thin instrument with a sharp looped edge.⁹ They then use an electrode (electric needle) to destroy any remaining cancer cells.⁹ This process is often repeated once or twice during the same office visit, and it will leave a scar.⁹ Curettage and electrodesiccation is a good treatment for superficial basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas,⁹ but it's not recommended for larger tumors.¹⁰

2. Excisional surgery

For this skin cancer surgery, the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic.⁹ Then, the tumor is cut out (excised) with a surgical knife, along with a surrounding margin of normal skin.⁹ The doctor will stitch the remaining skin back together, and there will be a scar.⁹ This treatment may be appropriate for any type of skin cancer.⁷

3. Mohs micrographic surgery

This complex, time-consuming procedure involves removing a thin layer of the skin (including the tumor), checking the sample under a microscope, and repeating the process until the skin samples are free of cancer cells.⁹ Mohs surgery often results in better outcomes than some other skin cancer treatments.⁹ Plus, more normal skin near the tumor can be saved, which can help the area look better after surgery.⁹ This type of surgery is for skin cancers that are larger, recurring or otherwise difficult to treat, and in areas where it's important to save as much skin as possible, such as the nose.⁷

4. Lymph node dissection

Removing nearby lymph nodes might be recommended for skin cancers that are very large or deep, as well as if the lymph nodes feel hard or enlarged.¹⁰ The surgeon will check the removed lymph nodes under a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells.¹⁰ This type of surgery is usually done while you're under general anesthesia.⁹ A possible long-term side effect of lymph node dissection is lymphedema, a condition in which excess fluid collects in the arms or legs.⁹

Non-Surgical Skin Cancer Treatments

Aside from surgery, a variety of techniques might be used to treat skin cancer. These treatments destroy a targeted area of skin tissue, but they don't use scalpels or cut into the skin.¹¹ Take a look at these four common non-surgical treatments:

1. Cryotherapy

In this procedure, the doctor applies liquid nitrogen to the tumor to freeze and kill the cells.¹¹ After the dead skin thaws, it will swell, blister, and crust over.¹¹ The wound may take a month or two to heal, and it will leave a scar.¹¹ This treatment may be used for actinic keratoses and small basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.¹¹ It's not recommended for larger, invasive tumors or those on certain parts of the ears, eyelids, nose, scalp or legs.¹⁰

2. Radiation therapy

This type of skin cancer treatment uses high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. The procedure is painless and lasts only a few minutes.¹² Radiation therapy can often cure small basal or squamous cell carcinomas and can delay the growth of more advanced cancers.¹² If a tumor is very large or hard to remove with surgery, radiation therapy may be used as the main treatment.¹² It might also be used following lymph node dissection, or for skin cancer that comes back after surgery.¹³

3. Immunotherapy

In order to keep itself from attacking normal cells, the immune system uses “checkpoints" — proteins on immune cells that must be turned on to start an immune response.¹⁴ Cancer cells sometimes use these checkpoints so they won't be attacked by the immune system.¹⁴ Medicine that targets checkpoint proteins can help restore the immune response against cancer cells.¹⁴ These drugs may be used to treat people with advanced basal or squamous cell carcinomas that can't be cured with surgery or radiation therapy,¹⁴ as well as for melanomas that can't be removed by surgery or have spread to other parts of the body.¹⁵

4. Chemotherapy

This type of skin cancer treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Topical chemotherapy (usually a cream or ointment) may be used to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas that haven't spread beyond the skin.¹¹ Systemic chemotherapy, in which drugs are injected into a vein or given by mouth so they can travel through the bloodstream, may be an option for squamous cell carcinomas that have spread.¹⁶ However, this treatment is not typically used for basal cell carcinomas, which rarely reach an advanced stage.¹⁶ Chemotherapy might be used to treat advanced melanomas after other treatments have been tried.¹⁷

Average Costs of Skin Cancer Treatment and Surgery

The cost of skin cancer treatment depends on the type, size, depth and location of the cancer, as well as the stage in which it was detected.¹⁸ Other factors include the treatment methods you and your doctor choose,¹⁹ along with the facility where the treatment is performed. Keep in mind that skin cancer treatment costs will likely differ depending on if treatment is performed in a hospital, clinic or office setting. ²⁰

Overall costs for treating skin cancer are anywhere between a couple hundred dollars into the hundreds of thousands, depending on the treatment and your access to health insurance.²¹ Chemotherapy can be particularly expensive — in the United States, a new anticancer drug routinely costs more than $120,000 per patient per year of treatment.²² On the other end of the spectrum, costs for topical chemotherapy for superficial basal and squamous cell carcinomas may range from $300 to $600.¹⁹

Here's an estimated cost comparison of various skin cancer treatment options:²¹

• Excisional surgery: $1,000 to $5,000.
• Mohs Surgery: $1,000 to $2,000.
• Cutterage and electrodessication: $400 on average, but less than $1,000.
• Cryosurgery: $1,000 or less.
• Topicals: $200 to $600.
• Immunotherapy: Up to $100,000/year.

Costs also take into consideration your geographical location, what your doctor charges, your health insurance deductible and more.²³

Does insurance cover skin cancer treatment?

Most insurance will cover skin cancer treatment because it's considered medically necessary rather than elective.¹⁹ Still, it's a good idea to check with your insurance company before you get treatment.¹⁹ If you have health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for skin cancer treatment typically consist of co-pays for doctor visits, lab visits and prescription drugs, as well as coinsurance of 10% to 50% for surgery and other procedures.¹⁸

CareCredit Financing for Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin cancer may be common, but it's also highly treatable.³ If you notice any changes to your skin, make an appointment with a dermatologist right away. You can apply for the CareCredit credit card as a payment option to help pay for any out-of-pocket costs and expenses,* and use the CareCredit Acceptance Locator or Mobile App to find an enrolled dermatology practice near you.

Author Bio

Robyn Tellefsen is a freelance writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, finance, and more. Her work has appeared on sites such as LoopNet, Beachside Rehab, First Horizon Bank, SoFi, A Place for Mom, American Express, Chase and more.