Spotlight on skin cancer Spotlight on skin cancer S kin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States, with more than 700,000 cases diagnosed each year. With the exception of melanoma and some forms of squamous cell carcinoma, the disease is not life-threatening.
Skin cancer is one of the few cancers that can largely be prevented by following healthy sun habits.
Basal and squamous cell skin cancers occur primarily on body areas exposed to the sun - the face, hands, forearms and ears. Sun worshippers trying to get tanned can also get skin cancer on their shoulders, backs, chests or legs. The best way to avoid skin cancer is to stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. When that isn't possible, wear sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 15. Tanning booths work in conjunction with sunlight to create skin cancer and are therefore not recommended, according to physicians in the dermatology department at UC Davis Medical Center.