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What Is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is a type of cancer in which malignant or abnormal cells grow in the skin.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), over one million people in the US are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. Research has led to better methods of diagnosing and treating this disease. The NCI says skin cancer is now almost 100% curable if found early and treated promptly.
Learn about the causes of skin cancer.
Types of skin cancer
Melanoma
A disease of the skin in which cancer cells are found in the melanocytes, the cells that produce color in the skin through a pigment called melanin.
Merkel cell carcinoma
A rare, rapidly growing cancer in which cancer cells are found on or just beneath the skin and in hair follicles.
Non-melanoma skin cancer
A type of skin cancer that forms in the lower part of the outer layer of the skin or in squamous cells, but not in the skin cells that make pigment (melanocytes).
Cutaneous lymphoma
A rare group of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that arise primarily in the skin.
Condition Spotlight
Clinical Trials for Skin Cancer
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.
Skin Cancer Program
We are leading innovators in the research and treatment of skin cancer, including melanoma, cutaneous lymphoma, and basal and squamous cell carcinomas.
Other Clinics
Skin Cancer
Most often caused by exposure to the sun’s UV radiation, the abnormal growth of skin cells is called skin cancer. Learn about the different types of skin cancer.
skin cancer
what is skin cancer
types of skin cancer