The Basics of Skin Cancer: Types of the Disease

In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, sponsored by Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme, we spoke with Dr. Anthony Rossi, a Moh’s surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, about the different types of skin cancer and how individuals can be proactive about screening.

The type of skin cancer a person gets is determined by where the cancer begins. The three major types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma — which are grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers – and melanoma. Other types of skin cancer include cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Merkel cell carcinoma and Sebaceous carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, can look like a flesh-colored round growth or a pinkish patch of skin, while squamous cell carcinoma can look like a red firm bump, scaly patch. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can develop within a mole that is already on the skin or it can appear suddenly as a dark spot on the skin that looks different from the rest.

Rossi highlighted the importance of early detection of each of these skin cancer types by knowing the ABCDE’s — asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolvement of moles.