Statistics

            Skin cancers: three basic types:

                        Basal cell carcinoma- Arises from basal cells and typically not life threatening. But get it checked out and request a biopsy just to be sure.

                        Squamous cell carcinoma- Arises from the squamous cells and is typically not life threatening.

            Together, these two types of cancer account for about 96% of all skin cancer.

                        Melanoma- On the other hand, this type of cancer accounts for only 4% of all skin cancers but it is the cause of 79% of all cancer deaths.

            If you are white with fair skin you have a much higher risk of developing skin cancer than an African American.

            Skin cancer—melanoma—is the leading cause of death of women ages 25-30