Health Articles > Cancer > Growth Rates of Skin Cancer

With all the health risk information inundating us, it is a miracle anyone takes the risk of getting out of bed in the morning. Well, skin cancer is one risk that is not only serious, but a form of cancer many of us will get.

Unlike most cases of cancer, skin cancer is not a hidden risk. It is right there on your skin. People only die from skin cancer for a couple of reasons. Either they do not recognize it as cancer or they do not act on what they see.

Skin cancer breaks down into three distinct forms of the illness. Melanoma is the best known, but two other versions exist. They are basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common type of skin cancer diagnosed in the world. It is estimated it makes up as much as 90 percent of all cases, which is rather astounding when you think that there are two other types.

Given this huge percentage, why do we not hear more about basal cell carcinoma? The answer is all about spreading. Simply put, it does not spread from the point of origin and is thus not deadly expect in very rare cases.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the next step up in seriousness. As long as it is diagnosed early and treated, it is not deadly. If you let it go for years without care, however, it can spread to the internal organs and cause death.

Melanoma carcinoma is not only the third form of skin cancer, it is the deadliest. Fortunately, it is also the rarest version. That being said, this is a disease you want to have treated as soon as humanely possible.

Why is this form of skin cancer so deadly? Once again, it comes down to the issue of spreading. Simply put, it spreads quickly through the lymph nodes and blood to the internal organs.

Nothing good is going to happen when cancer gets into the organs. Since melanoma spreads to the organs quickly, it is the form of skin cancer that kills the most. It is also the rarest form, occurring in roughly 4 percent of all cases.

If you are going to get skin cancer, basal cell is definitely the type you want. Melanoma, on the other hand, should be avoided. Make sure to see a medical professional to get you skin checked out from time to time.