Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. There are three primary types, as well as a few much rarer forms. The three main skin cancer types are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Although melanoma is much less common than the other types, it’s a lot more likely to invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis (the skin you see when you look at yourself) and the dermis (the lower or inner layer). Skin cancer begins in the epidermis, which is made up of three kinds of cells: Squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that form the top layer of the epidermis; basal cells, round cells under the squamous cells; and melanocytes, cells that make the pigment melanin, which gives the skin its color. People with a higher amount of melanin have darker skin.

The NCI estimates that 97,610 people will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2023, and the American Cancer Society says that about 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. skin cancer case numbers have been increasing for many years, likely due to better skin cancer screenings and detection, people getting more sun exposure, and people living longer.

Our physicians are well versed in the treatment of skin cancer, and our support staff will make your treatment journey as easy as possible. We have offices in Louisville and just across the river in Jeffersonville for your convenience. Learn more about our physicians.

Types of skin cancer

All of the most common skin cancer types can be triggered by sun exposure. Sometimes that sun exposure damages cells and causes them to reproduce out of control, resulting in tumors.

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer; about 8 of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. This cancer usually develops on sun-exposed areas, particularly the face, head, and neck.
• Squamous cell carcinoma is found in 2 out of 10 skin cancers. These cancers are usually found in sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and back of the hands. They can also develop in scars or chronic skin sores elsewhere.
• Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, but they’re more likely to start on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women. Because this cancer begins in the pigment-producing melanocytes, they are often black or brown in color. But some melanomas don’t make melanin, so these tumors can appear pink, tan, or white.
• Other, much rarer types of skin cancers include Merkel cell skin cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and lymphoma of the skin.

Risk factors for skin cancer

Some behaviors and activities can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. The primary risk factor is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, whether it’s through outdoor work, spending time at the beach, or using a tanning bed regularly. White people with light-colored skin that freckles or burns easily, blue or green eyes, and naturally red or blonde hair are at the highest risk of developing skin cancer.

Age

HPV Infection

Other risk factors for skin cancer include:

• Having many moles or atypical moles
• Having a weakened immune system
• Age
• Sex. Males are at a higher risk for skin cancer
• Personal or family history of skin cancer
• Smoking
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

Radiation treatment for skin cancer

If a tumor is very large or it’s in an area of the skin that makes it hard to remove with surgery, radiation therapy may be used as the main treatment. Patients who, for other health reasons, can’t have surgery, can often benefit from radiation treatment for skin cancer.

Radiation is also useful when combined with other treatments. For example, your oncologist may prescribe radiation treatment after surgery in order to kill any small areas of remaining cancer cells. This is called adjuvant therapy. Radiation treatment can be used to treat skin cancers that come back after surgery. It can also be used in palliative care, treatment to relieve symptoms and not expected to cure the cancer.

Radiation treatment for skin cancer can be done in several ways. For basal and squamous cell carcinomas, radiation is focused on the tumor, usually with a beam of low-energy x-rays (superficial radiation therapy) or electrons (electron beam radiation). Melanoma is also treated by external beam radiation therapy.

Our physicians use electron beam radiation for superficial skin cancers with custom-designed treatment based on the size and shape of the patient’s tumor. For advanced skin cancers, we have the ability to also use 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and IMRT. We are experienced in custom fabrication of 3D printed material for use in the treatment of more advanced skin cancers.

Radiation therapy for skin cancer is also used following surgery for some patients due to high risk findings at time of surgery.

Information on this page is sourced from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

Cancers We Treat

Our physicians treat a wide variety of cancers. You can view the full list here, or you can click below to learn about the cancers we most commonly treat.