But skin cancer is a growing topic of interest. Joan Blum, cancer prevention coordinator at Mercy Hospital, gave an informational speech to an audience of about 25 students about skin cancer education and prevention Tuesday evening in Olmsted Center. Through a slide show presentation, Blum spoke about the different types of skin cancer. The three main types are basal and squamos cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Basal and squamos cell are generally not life-threatening, but can spread and damage other tissue.
Malignant melanoma is dangerous because if left untreated, it can spread to organs within the body.
In 1997, it is estimated there will be reports of 900,000 new skin cancers. Three-fourths of these are basal or squamos cell. Malignant melanoma is the most deadly but the least common, Blum said. Basal cell carcinoma accounts for 90 percent of all skin cancers and is recognized as a lump or a doughnut-shaped rash. It generally starts as a pearly bump, becomes indented in the center and spreads out, disappearing into the skin.