Understanding
Melanoma
It is important to see a dermatology provider on a yearly basis for a thorough skin check .
by Dr . Alpesh Desai
How Common is Melanoma ?
Did you know skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States ? There are three main forms of skin cancer : basal cell carcinoma , squamous cell carcinoma , and melanoma . Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer because of its ability to spread rapidly to other organs if not discovered early . It develops in our skin ’ s melanocytes , the cells that produce color in our skin . The rates of melanoma are increasing every year in the United States . Melanoma accounts for approximately 1 % of skin cancers ; however , it causes the majority of skin cancer deaths . The American Cancer Society estimates 106,110 cases of mel-
72 iS Skin Source