> Skin Cancer

• Symptoms & Characteristics
• Treatment
• How Common Is It?
• Genetics & Inheritance
• Genetic Testing
• Support & More Information
• Alternative Names

Last Reviewed June 2, 2009

Symptoms & Characteristics

Skin cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the skin. There are several different types of skin cancer. These types include:

• Melanoma - develops in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment)

• Basal cell carcinoma - develops in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin)

• Squamous cell carcinoma - develops in squamous cells (flat cells that make-up the surface of the skin)

• Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin - develops in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system)

The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. These cancer types typically form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.

Treatment

Any suspicious skin markings or changes in skin appearance should be checked by a physician. Early detection can lead to more effective treatment of skin cancer. If left untreated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.

How Common Is It?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 1,000,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.

Genetics & Inheritance

Cancer is a multifactorial condition, which means it involves a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Most cases of skin cancer are not inherited and occur sporadically.

Some studies have suggested that the following are risk factors for skin cancer:

• ultraviolet (UV) radiation (from the sun, sunlamps, tanning beds, or tanning booths)

• having fair skin, fair hair and light-colored eyes

• weak immune function (or medical conditions or medications that suppress immune function)

• infection with certain human papillomaviruses

• occupational arsenic exposure

• chronic skin inflammation or skin ulcers

• certain skin diseases, such as actinic keratosis (a type of flat, scaly growth on the skin) and Bowen's disease (a type of scaly or thickened patch on the skin)

• burns or scars

A small percent of all skin cancers are due to a genetic condition or hereditary cancer syndrome.

Hereditary Cancer Syndrome - A hereditary cancer syndrome is caused by an inherited gene mutation that increases the chance to develop one or more types of cancer. Families are more likely to have a hereditary cancer syndrome if there are multiple generations of affected family members with the same cancer (or associated cancers). People who are diagnosed at an unusually young age or have certain rare cancers are also more likely to have a hereditary cancer syndrome. Several different hereditary cancer syndromes have been identified. Click here for more information about Cancer Genetics.

Two of the more common hereditary cancer syndromes associated with skin cancer include:

• Gorlin Syndrome: People with Gorlin syndrome have a 75% risk to develop basal call carcinoma by age 20 and a 90% risk by age 40.

• Familial Melanoma: People with familial melanoma have a greater than 90% risk to develop melanoma. The average age of diagnosis is 34 years old.

There are a number of hereditary cancer syndromes that confer an elevated risk to develop skin cancer along with even higher risks to develop other types of cancers. Some of the other hereditary cancer syndromes associated with skin cancer include:

• Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS)

• Cowden syndrome

• Familial retinoblastoma

Genetic Conditions - People with certain genetic conditions are at increased risk to develop some types of cancer. Some of the common genetic conditions that are associated with skin cancer include:

• Ataxia-telangiectasia

• Xeroderma pigmentosum

• Werner syndrome

• Bloom syndrome

• Albinism

A cancer genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional is important for a complete evaluation, accurate diagnosis, as well as discussion of the benefits and limitations of testing and recurrence risk.

Genetic Testing

Clinical genetic testing for the genetic conditions or hereditary cancer syndromes associated with skin cancer may be available through an in person genetic consultation for people who are considered at risk.

The decision to have genetic testing is personal and should always be discussed with trained medical professional. Use our find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained genetic professional in your area.

• Health professionals who specialize in cancer genetics can also be found at the National Cancer Institute website.

• A medical geneticist can also be found at the American College of Medical Genetics website.

• A genetic counselor can also be found at the National Society of Genetic Counselors website.

Support & More Information

• The National Cancer Institute website

Alternative Names

• cancer of the skin