Skin Cancer - What is it?

What is skin cancer? Dermatologist Dr. Richard Thomas explains the three types of skin cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma. Images are provided to help identify each type of cancer.

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common cancer and outnumber all the other skin cancers combined. They rarely metastasize, but they are a cancer and continue to spread and infiltrate, damaging the skin so they should be removed. Squamous Cell Carcimomas are another common type of skin cancer. Like basal cell cancers, they are affected by sun exposure. Unlike BCCs, squamous cell carcinomas have the potential to metastasize and spread to internal organs, so they need to be removed as soon as possible. The last, and most rare type of skin cancer is melanoma. Although the most rare, they account for the most number of deaths. This cancer of the melanocyte is aggressive and needs to be identified and removed as soon as possible.

Dr. Richard Thomas is a dermatologist that currently practices at Sidra Research and Medical Centre in Doha, Qatar. http://www.sidra.org/

We have a new YouTube series focused on Mohs Surgery, which is the gold standard treatment for Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas that offer the highest cure rate and minimum tissue loss.    • Mohs Surgery Comprehensive Guide  

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