What age or sex factors are important in skin cancer risk?- Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma incidences peak in the seventh decade of life. Melanoma incidence peaks around age 50.
- Overall, men develop more skin cancer than do women, but in the third and fourth decades of life, almost as many women develop skin cancer as men.
- Melanoma occurs most frequently on the chest, shoulders, and back in males and in young women (ages 15 to 29). Melanoma is most commonly found on the legs of adult women 30 years and older.
- For both sexes, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma develop most often on chronically sun-exposed areas, including the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
- One caveat: Patients should have a total skin exam, because skin cancer of all types can occur on infrequently sun-exposed or non–sun-exposed areas, such as scalp, buttocks, and between the toes.
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