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Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) |
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) |
Melanoma |
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Appearance
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Small, shiny bumps or nodules that are red, pink, or white; persistent, nonhealing sore; reddish flat patch; or a scar-like white or yellowish area |
Red, scaly patches or bumps |
Asymmetrical, mottled patches with notched or blurred borders, typically in tan, brown, or black |
| Size |
Takes many years or months to reach a half-inch |
Can reach up to three-quarters of an inch to an inch |
Usually greater than 6 mm |
| Location |
Head, neck, hands, and occasionally on the trunk of the body |
Face, ears, neck, lips, and back of the hands |
Can occur anywhere on the body, most frequently on the upper back or legs, as well as the head and neck |
| Progression |
Grows slowly and may bleed, crust over, then the cycle repeats |
Can develop into large masses |
Can appear without warning, or may begin in or near a mole or other dark spot on the skin |
| Potential for metastasis |
Rare, but can grow into nearby areas and may invade bone and vital structures, such as the eye |
Can metastasize, and may be fatal if not treated |
Can metastasize, and is deadly if not treated |
| Prevalence |
BCC accounts for 80% of all skin cancers (more than 800,000 new cases each year). |
SCC accounts for 16% of all skin cancers (approximately 250,000 new cases each year). About 2,500 deaths from SCC are expected during 2007. |
Melanoma accounts for 4% of all skin cancers (approximately 59,940 new cases each year). More than 8,110 melanoma deaths are expected during 2007. |
