CAPS FOR A CAUSE

It is easiest to break down skin cancer into two categories: Melanoma and Nonmelanoma

• Melanoma is a dangerous tumor that arises from melanocytes, the pigment producing cells in our skin that determine our unique skin color.  

• Nonmelanoma is, well, not melanoma... Let's start here. 

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Nonmelanoma:

• Nonmelanoma refers to two types of skin cancers: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

  • The word "basal" refers to the bottom layer of cells within our skin. These cells specialize in producing new skin cells as old ones die off.

  • The word "squamous" refers to our skin's middle and outer portion. They help keep the outside environment out (dirt and germs, etc.) and keep the good stuff in (water and nutrients, etc.)

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Figure 1: On the left, we see a SCC on the ear, an area we often forget to apply sunscreen. On the right is a BCC on the face. 

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• Like any cell in the human body, damage accumulation can weaken each cell's ability to divide normally. Just like smoking predisposes lung cancer, repetitive sun damage over many years can predispose us to skin cancers.  

  

Understanding The Numbers...

• Remember above when we mentioned that over 5 million skin cancers are diagnosed yearly? Well...

  • Roughly 65% of those will be basal cell carcinoma, the most common and typically least aggressive form

  • Around 30% percent are squamous cell carcinoma, which carries a higher risk of spreading if left untreated

  • And the remaining 5% are (mostly*) melanomas

                   * Yes - there are a few other rarer types of skin cancer... but we won't test you on those. 

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The good news: nearly all nonmelanoma skin cancers are curable — especially when caught early. Treatment options range from freezing and topical therapies to electrodesiccation and surgical removal, with survival rates approaching 100% at early stages. [5]

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But early detection is everything. The longer a skin cancer grows before treatment, the greater the risk of extensive scarring and permanent disfigurement — consequences that carry both a physical and financial toll that can follow patients for a lifetime.

 

And while "nonmelanoma" may sound reassuring, don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Squamous cell carcinoma left untreated carries roughly a 3.7% risk of metastasis — meaning it can spread beyond the skin to other parts of the body — and a 2.1% risk of death. These aren't numbers to ignore. They're numbers that make a case for sunscreen, shade, and yes, a wide-brimmed hat.  [9] 

 

Melanoma:

• Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and for good reason. Unlike other skin cancers, melanoma has a remarkable ability to evade the immune system and spread to distant organs, making early detection absolutely critical.

  • So what exactly is melanoma? Let's back up for a second.

    • Melanoma is a tumor that arises from melanocytes — specialized cells in the skin responsible for producing melanin. And melanin is genuinely fascinating. In response to UV radiation, melanocytes produce this pigmented, UV-absorbing molecule and distribute it throughout the skin via tiny tentacle-like projections, where it settles above our cells like a microscopic umbrella — shielding our DNA from harmful UV damage and giving our skin its color.

  • Which brings up an important point: fair-skinned individuals produce less melanin, meaning fewer "umbrellas" to protect their DNA from UV radiation. This makes them significantly more vulnerable to UV-induced damage compared to darker skin types. More UV damage means more DNA damage — and more DNA damage means a higher risk of melanoma.

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• Roughly 200,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year in the U.S. 

  • If found late, the estimated five-year survival rate is 30-50% after it has spread. [5]

  • However, the estimated five-year survival rate is 99% when caught early and removed. [5]

  • An estimated 7,650 lives will be lost this year to melanoma. [5]

 

While UV radiation and sun exposure are among the most significant risk factors for skin cancer, including melanoma, it's important to understand that not all melanomas are sun-driven. Melanoma can arise anywhere in the body that contains pigment-producing melanocytes, regardless of sun exposure.

 

That means melanoma can develop in some surprising places: the soles of the feet, beneath fingernails and toenails, inside the mouth, and even at the back of the eye. This is why full-body skin awareness matters for everyone — not just those with a history of sunburns or outdoor exposure. If it has pigment, it has potential.

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Figure 2: Melanoma can affect any area of our body where melanocytes are present, including our skin, nails, palms, and soles, and rarely our mouth, eyes, nose, and even brain. 

 

Updated: 03/10/2026

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