The three most common forms of skin cancer are malignant melanoma, squamous cell, and basal cell cancers. All three can be caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays that damage the skin’s cells so that they begin to divide uncontrollably.
Most people who have any form of skin cancer get rid of the disease if they are treated early. Healthy sun habits are important when you are a child to prevent skin cancer. Read more in the text sun advice for children.
Malignant melanoma
Malignant melanoma occurs in the skin’s pigment cells and is usually due to the fact that you have burned in the sun several times. Malignant melanoma can be formed anywhere on the body but is most common on the legs, chest, and back. Cancer sometimes occurs in ordinary nevi, which are also called birthmarks or liver spots.
The cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body if you do not receive treatment on time.
Malignant melanoma is extremely rare before puberty and uncommon during adolescence.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Disc epithelial cancer you can get if you have been in the sun a lot during your life, even if you have not burned. The cancer is usually formed as a knot or stain in, for example, the face, on the upper side of the hand or the bare part of the head.
There are several different treatments if you have a precursor to squamous cell cancer. Invasive squamous cell cancer must be operated on as it can spread differently.
Disc epithelial cancer is uncommon before the age of 40.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell cancer, or basalioma, is most often formed on the face or upper body. Cancer usually does not spread to other parts of the body, but the cancerous tumors can grow and destroy healthy tissue adjacent to it. Therefore, basal cell cancer is always treated.
There are different types of basal cell cancer that differ by the way they grow, their appearance and how deep down the skin the cancer is.
There is a clear link between solar radiation and basal cell cancer, but heredity and other risk factors can also affect.
Basal cell cancer is unusual before the age of 40.
Want to know more about cancer? Here you can read about how cancer occurs and get answers to frequently asked questions about cancer.