Medical Encyclopedia: Skin cancer locations (Print Version)

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Medical Encyclopedia: Skin cancer locations

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002133.htm

Alternative names

Location of most skin cancers

Information

Squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers are usually found on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, ears, hands, back, chest, and lower legs. The scalp is a common location for balding men.

Melanoma skin cancers are most frequently found on the backs of men, and on the backs or legs of women. These tend to be larger than a pencil eraser, have two or more colors (usually black and brown), and uneven edges.

Update Date: 2/5/2008

Updated by: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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