Introduction

Skin cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. If it is left unchecked, the malignant cells can spread to other tissues and organs to cause more serious problems. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. There are more than 1 million people diagnosed each year. About 1 in 5 Americans will acquire skin cancer in their lifetime. The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. There are about 1 million cases each year. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. There are about 250,000 cases each year and 2,500 resulting in death. Melanoma is rarer, but is the most serious form of skin cancer. It tends to metastasizes throughout the body and rapidly infects other tissues and organs. The annual rate of people acquiring skin cancer is increasing rapidly and is a growing public concern.