The stage for melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer, is set early, with the amount of sun exposure before the age of 18 playing a key role. Erratic sun exposure at any age is more likely to lead to melanoma, while chronic sun exposure may cause basal cell and squamous cell cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
Tanning beds are another possible skin cancer culprit, according to many experts.
Detecting melanoma early is critical in improving survival. When it s caught and operated on in the formative stages, the survival rate is about 90 percent. But it drops to about 20 percent in the worst cases when it has spread throughout the body. The cancer society promotes an ABCD process for early detection. Any change in color, shape, size or texture is another warning sign.