Skin cancer is the most common and most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the United States.
An estimated one million new cases of skin cancers occur each year. The most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma, will account for about 38,300 new cases in 1996, and will claim 7,300 lives. Skin cancer, if detected early, has an excellent chance of cure. According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, most Americans do not know what melanoma skin cancer is, and are not aware of the risk factors associated with the disease. Risk factors for squamous and basal cell carcinomas include chronic exposure to the sun, family history of skin cancer, personal history of skin cancer, and light color skin.