Skin Cancer - Prognosis

Both basal cell and squamous cell cancer are curable when treated promptly. The key to success is early detection and treatment of the conditions. The cure rate for both forms of cancer is nearly 100 percent.

Basal cell cancers are the most common type of skin cancer. They grow very slowly, making them easier to treat than melanomas. (© 1995 SPL. Reproduced by permission of Custom Medical Stock Photo.)
Basal cell cancers are the most common type of skin cancer. They grow very slowly, making them easier to treat than melanomas. (© 1995
SPL
. Reproduced by permission of
Custom Medical Stock Photo
.)

The prognosis for melanoma depends on how far the disease has spread. If a melanoma is removed in its early stages, the cure rate may be as high as 95 percent. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the cure rate drops dramatically. If it has reached the lymph nodes, for example, the survival rate after five years is about 50 percent. If the condition has gone beyond the lymph nodes, it may be considered incurable.

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