Skin Cancer
9th Grade
Skin Cancer Facts
• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in
the U.S. and accounts for approximately 50% of all
cancers.
• The incidence of skin cancer is greater than breast,
lung, prostate, colon, and kidney cancers added
together.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in
their lifetime.
• About one million people are diagnosed with skin
cancer every year in the U.S.
• One American dies every hour from skin cancer.
Types of Skin Cancer
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinoma is • This type of skin cancer
the most frequently usually appears on the
diagnosed skin cancer face, neck, ears, lips,
(2.8 million every year and nose.
in U.S.).
• Basal cell carcinoma
• This skin cancer occurs rarely results in death,
in heavily sun-exposed but it can spread and
areas of the skin. cause more serious
health problems.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Basal cell carcinomas typically occur as light pink
or flesh-colored bumps with pearly or waxy
appearances.
• They grow slowly and are almost never fatal but,
if neglected, they can grow to the point where
disfiguring surgery is necessary to remove them.
• Although common in all areas of the country, it is
especially prevalent in southern states.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most
common skin cancer (700,000 cases every
year in U.S.).
• It is more aggressive than basal and can
spread to other parts of the body and may
result in death (approximately 2,500/year).
• Squamous cell carcinoma also tends to occur
in the most heavily sun-exposed areas of the
skin.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinomas often start as flat
red or brown splotches which become rough,
dry, and scaly.
• If not treated, they may eventually grow large
enough to spread to nearby internal organs
and be fatal.
• It occurs in all areas of the country, but is
more prevalent in southern states.
Basal and Squamous Cell
Carcinomas
Approximately 1 Good news:
million cases of basal With early detection
and squamous cell and treatment, basal
carcinomas are and squamous cell
diagnosed each year carcinomas have a
in the U.S. cure rate of more
than 95%.
Melanoma
• Malignant melanoma is the most deadly of
the three types of cancer.
• Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of the
skin cancer cases.
• It causes more than 75% of the skin cancer
deaths.
• Melanoma causes about 8,790 deaths each
year in the U.S.
Source: CDC [Link]
[Link]
Melanoma
• Melanoma cases are • If not removed early,
increasing faster than any
other cancer. while thin, melanoma
• Melanoma is the most often grows rapidly,
common cancer among spreads to distant
25-29 year-olds and internal organs, and is
second for 15-29 year-
olds. fatal.
• Vulnerability to • It is equally likely to
melanoma begins at age occur in all areas of the
12, much earlier than
other skin cancers. country.
Source: CDC [Link]
[Link]
Ordinary Moles
ORDINARY MOLES have
all of these features:
• Round or oval shape
• Sharp, even borders with
skin
• Uniform color (usually
brown)
• Less than 1/4 inch wide
• Cauliflower or smooth
surface
• Even dome shape if mole
is raised
[Link]
Atypical Melanoma Moles
ATYPICAL MOLES often have
one or more of these features:
• Irregular shape
• Uneven and/or fuzzy borders
with skin
• Two or more shades of brown
or pink
• 1/4 inch wide or more
• Cauliflower or smooth
surface
• Flat edges with "fried egg"
center if mole is raised
[Link]
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
• Fair skin • Indoor tanning
• Light hair color • Large number of
• Family history of normal moles
skin cancer
• Blistering sunburn
before the age of
20
• Atypical moles
Controllable Risk Factors
Risk Factor Risk Percentage
Intermittent exposure of normally covered skin to strong High
sunlight
One blistering sunburn under the age of 20 2 times as likely
Three or more blistering sunburns under the age of 20 5 times as likely
One tanning bed session under the age of 30 Almost 2 times as likely
Ten or more tanning bed sessions in one year under the Almost 8 times as likely
age of 30
Warning Signs of Melanoma
Any change in a mole, blemish, freckle, birthmark, or
pigmented area
A new mole or freckle that appears or is growing rapidly,
especially if you don't have many moles, or the new mole or
freckle looks different from those you do have
A mole or other growth that has any of
the ABCD properties:
A = Asymmetry B = Border
Radial melanomas are often The borders of radial
unsymmetrical; an melanomas may be uneven,
imaginary line through the fuzzy, or have notched or
middle does not produce scalloped edges.
matching halves
C = Color D = Diameter
Unlike normal or atypical
Radial melanomas often moles, radial melanomas
begin to show color changes often grow larger than the
in areas, with shades of width of a pencil eraser.
black, brown, tan, and
sometimes other colors.
Warning Signs of Melanoma
A change in surface texture or in the way a mole feels to the
touch
A new "freckle" that is dark, dry, or scaly
A pigmented area or splotch that is new or that you don't
remember seeing before
Warning Signs of Melanoma
A new spot that is black, even if very small
A mole or other spot that looks or behaves differently than
those around it, even if it seems otherwise normal
A mole or other spot that itches and/or bleeds
Redness, other color, or shadow extending into the
surrounding skin
Does where we live matter?
Figures, rounded to the nearest ten, are from
American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2011.
UV Index
Ultraviolet Rays (UV) –
The ozone layer shields
the earth from harmful
UV radiation. Ozone
depletion, weather and UV Index – Click here for
the seasons cause an explanation of UV
different amounts of UV Index.
radiation to reach the UV Index for your town –
earth. Use this link to see the
current UV index in
your town.
**Note: Slide must be in display mode
for websites to be active.**
Sun
Smart
In your group, discuss and record ways
to reduce your chances of skin
cancer.