|Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers| |J. Taylor Whaley, MD| |The Abramson
Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania| Skin, the
largest organ in the body, serves numerous functions. The most
obvious function of skin is serving as a barrier between the
outside world and internal organs. Over the course of years of
exposure, skin is exposed to numerous potential carcinogens, or
cancer causing agents, most importantly the sun and its damaging
ultraviolet rays. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer
diagnosed each year. The incidence of skin cancers exceeds that
of all other cancers, and it is estimated that nearly half of
cancers diagnosed every year will be skin cancers. Moreover, it
is estimated that nearly half of the general population that
lives to age 65 will be diagnosed with a skin cancer in their
lifetime. Over the past decade, the incidence of skin cancers
has increased dramatically. In fact, the treatment of non-
melanoma skin cancer has risen more than 70% since the early
1990’s. The median age at