Skin cancer

Skin cancer, the most common type of cancer, occurs when malignant cells form within tissues of the skin.

There are several different types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer; in fact, it is the most common of all types of cancer in humans. When viewed under a microscope, cancer cells of this type resemble the cells in the bottom layer of the epidermis, the basal cell layer.

Squamous cell carcinoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma. Cancer cells of this type resemble abnormal versions of squamous cells, which are flat cells above the basal cell layer of the epidermis.

Melanoma is far less common than basal or squamous cell cancer, but melanomas are more likely to spread if not treated. Melanomas develop from melanocytes, which are the pigment-producing cells in skin.

Rarer skin cancers include Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous (skin) lymphoma, skin adnexal tumors, Kaposi sarcoma and various other types of sarcomas.

UCSF Radiation Oncology is part of the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network; an alliance of 26 of the world’s leading cancer centers. We offer a complete range of treatments for skin cancers, individually customized for each patient, including:

• High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy
• Superficial radiation therapy
• Hyperthermia
• External beam radiotherapy (EBRT)