cancer, renal cell

cancer, skin A malignant tumor of the outer surface of the body. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US. There are many types of skin cancer; the three most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and the most deadly, melanoma. The main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet light from sunlight. Tanning lamps are a hazard in this regard. Unexplained changes in the appearance of the skin that last longer than 2 weeks should be evaluated by a physician. The cure rate for skin cancer could be 100 percent if all skin cancers were brought to a physician’s attention before they had a chance to spread. See also basal cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; melanoma.