Don't become one of the 6.1M Americans diagnosed with skin cancer each year

Basking in the heat this time of year is tempting, but without proper protection, you may become one of the each year.

With skin cancer totaling the highest U.S. cancer rates, knowing the different types and how to prevent them is the difference between fun and not-so-fun in the sun.

Alicia Swink, MD, Medical Director of Oncology at St. Maryтs Regional Hospital Cancer Centers of Colorado dove into the differences between melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and the ways to avoid them.

Types of skin cancer

At a baseline, skin cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the skin. It's often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds.

тYou can get all types of skin cancer anywhere on the body, so it is always best to look,т said Dr. Swink.

There are several types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. These cancers all start at the top layer of your skin and help define the cancer types.

тThese cancers come from the layer of skin called epidermis, which has different types of cells such as melanocytes, which give pigment to the skin, squamous cells, which are your top few layers of flat cells, and basal cells, which form the lowermost layer of cells that form the epidermis,т said Dr. Swink.

тBasal cell carcinomas are usually confused for a zit that lasts longer than three months, a scar, or a subtle pink spot,т said Dr. Swink.

Although basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body, it can cause disfigurement if left untreated. Fortunately, BCC is highly treatable in a clinic, especially when detected early. Your doctor may recommend surgical removal.Ь§

SCC is the second most common type of skin cancer. It may look similar to BCC as a red, scaly patch or sore that may crust or bleed. Itтs commonly seen on body areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as your face, neck, and hands.

Like BCC, SCC can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated, but can be treated with topical medication. Your doctor could also recommend Mohs surgery or radiation therapy. тOnce invasive, a squamous cell carcinoma will need to be treated with surgical excision or Mohs micrographic surgery,т said Dr. Swink.

тBasal and squamous cell cancers usually have a tendency to grow out of skin, and hence the invasiveness is not as much of a concern usually, as compared to melanoma,т said Dr. Swink.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the least common, but most deadly, type of skin cancer. It often appears as a new, unusual-looking mole or a change in an existing mole. Review mole warning signs with the ABCDE of melanoma:

A - Is it asymmetrical?

B - Is the border of the mole uneven?

C - Is the mole more than one color?

D - Is the mole diameter larger than 6mm?

E - Is there a change/evolution in the mole?

Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, including areas not exposed to the sun. If left untreated, it can spread rapidly to other parts of the body, so early detection and treatment is critical.

тMelanoma has a tendency to grow deeper in the skin thereby invading the deeper layer of skin where the tumor can spread to the lymph nodes and distant tissues,т said Dr. Swink.

When it comes to treatment, each case is different. тMelanomas are treated based upon their risk to the patient and will require a wide local excision,т said Dr. Swink. тIf it's a higher risk, it may require a sentinel lymph node biopsy at time of excision and a visit with oncology.т

While it may seem scary, Dr. Swink says that melanoma is no longer a death sentence. тA fair number of people now get diagnosed early,т she said. тSome may even just need an excision of skin with safe margin under local anesthesia, and nothing else but monitoring.т

Dr. Swink also added that if your melanoma has spread to your lymph nodes and distant tissues, the appropriate treatment can be promising. тResults from Immunotherapy have been quite impressive to be treated with a good disease-free and metastases-free survival benefit,т she said.

Prevention of skin cancer

It may be unsurprising that prevention is the best defense against skin cancer. Dr. Swink encouraged outdoor activities that bring you joy, but advised that smart sun protection is the safest, lowest risk treatment for skin cancer. т[People say] Iтve had a lot of sun exposure, a little more wonтt make a difference,т she said. тBut minimizing further sun damage is nearly always beneficial.т

Regular skin checks are essential for early detection of skin cancer. These , but also schedule routine skin cancer screenings with a dermatologist, especially if you have a family history.

тIf there is a strong family history of melanoma, or if the patient is young on initial presentation, prevention by routine and early onset skin evaluation would be the key,т said Dr. Swink.

Besides regular checks and screenings, thereтs important ways to protect yourself from UV rays. To do this, wear sun protection clothing and use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. And if you live in a snowy area, donтt think youтre off the hook. тSnow can reflect a lot of UV radiation, and so you should wear sunscreen even out in the snow on a sunny day,т said Dr. Shah.

On a sunny day, Dr. Swink shared that peak sun radiation occurs between 10am and 4pm, and to try and schedule outdoor activities before or after that timeframe. And if it canтt be avoided, then slip, slop, slap, seek, slide. тТйБєОББш into photo-protective clothing, slop on mineral sunscreen to the areas not protected, slap on a hat, seek the shade, and slide into some sunglasses,т she said.

Practicing early detection and prevention can help reduce your skin cancer risk, even in these sunny May days. To learn more about the different types of skin cancer, or to schedule an appointment, visit our .