| Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) | Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) | Melanoma | |
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Appearance |
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. |
Adapted, with permission, from the American Academy of Dermatology’s “Actinic Keratoses and Skin Cancer,” available at http://www.aad.org/public/News/DermInfo/DInfoSkinCancerUpdates.htm.
