Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the skin. It remains the most common cancer in the United States — more common than all other cancer diagnoses combined.
Most skin cancers are caused by repeated exposure to sunlight over time. Risk factors for this disease include being male, having lighter skin and spending a lot of time outdoors. People with low immune systems can also be at higher risk of skin cancer.
Skin cancer symptoms may include any unexpected changes to the skin, including a new growth or changes to an existing one, sores that won’t heal and bleeding or scaly lesions.
If someone has possible symptoms of skin cancer, the care team may diagnose the cancer by performing additional testing, including a biopsy. If skin cancer is diagnosed, the oncology care team may assign a stage to the disease.
The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other types include melanoma, Kaposi sarcoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, pleomorphic dermal sarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Skin cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and other options. The care team will develop a personalized treatment plan based on your cancer’s stage, location and other factors.
Skin cancer care at City of Hope means you are steps away from labs where our researchers develop new cancer treatments every day. As a result, that proximity offers benefits from something unique in cancer care — bench-to-bedside treatment.
When you come to City of Hope, you have access to a strong network of support services and staff to help you and your family along your skin cancer journey.
Our Skin Cancer Expertise
City of Hope is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment and research of skin cancer.
Our Skin Cancer Program Highlights
- Dermatologic surgeons who are skilled in minimally invasive surgeries to reduce the impact on your appearance
- Expertise in Mohs surgery and other procedures that lead to fewer interventions and the highest possible cure rate, which is above 99% for many skin cancers that undergo treatment with Mohs surgery
- Advanced radiation therapy delivery that is highly focused on the area where cancer is present to reduce impact to healthy skin cells
- Deep experience with immunotherapy-based treatments — including pivotal clinical trials for widely used drugs like ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab
- Expertise with isolated limb infusion, a focused chemotherapy treatment unavailable at many other cancer centers
- Internationally trained dermatopathologists who combine clinical experience with leading-edge technology to provide the most accurate diagnosis
- Tumor testing and customized drug therapy tailored to the molecular profile of specific skin cancers
- Expertise in advanced facial reconstructive and microvascular procedures for patients with complex skin cancers
- Survivorship clinics — including physical therapy for lymphedema-related side effects — that provide support and monitoring throughout the cancer journey
Your care includes regular interaction and input from a team staffed by oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, dermatologists and pathologists, along with nurses, social workers and specially trained support staff.
City of Hope is one of fewer than 60 facilities in the United States designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
Our developments in the areas of breakthrough cancer drugs, minimally invasive skin surgeries and immunotherapy are recognized internationally.
Our leadership in research and innovation continually enhances our ability to provide novel and differentiated approaches to skin cancer care.