Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the U.S. with more than 2 million cases diagnosed each year. It affects people of all ages and skin tones. Fortunately, most cases are treatable with early detection and the right treatment plan. At OSF, your care team knows that no two cancers are alike. They will focus on you and your specific cancer, developing a personalized care plan with an integrated team of experts. 

From the moment you or your provider spot the signs of skin cancer, through diagnosis, treatment and beyond, your skin cancer team will walk with you, providing expert guidance, determining the best treatment plan that fits your lifestyle, and connecting you to a full team of resources to support your mind, body and spirit. 

Skin Cancers We Treat

The most common skin cancers are nonmelanoma skin cancers. The two most common nonmelanoma skin cancers are:

• Basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common type of skin cancer. It starts in the epidermis in your skin’s basal cells and is commonly found in your skin’s sun-exposed areas, like the face, head, neck, arms and hands. It can appear as small, raised, shiny, or pearly bumps, crusty, itchy patches or flat white or yellow spots. Nearly all cases can be cured. It grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of your body.
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer and starts in the flat squamous cells in the upper part of the epidermis. It’s commonly found in the sun-exposed areas of your skin, like the face, ears, lips, head, neck, arms, and hands. Its appearance varies, but it often shows up as a rough, scaly, wart-like, reddish patch. This cancer tends to grow quickly, but rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Much less common is melanoma, which affects about 1% of skin cancer patients but accounts for most deaths.

Treatments We Offer

When you have a skin cancer diagnosis, you deserve the highly-experienced, compassionate care team at OSF HealthCare. You’ll have access to a full range of treatment options, and will feel the expertise of the entire care team from start to finish of your journey. Depending on the type of skin cancer you have, those options may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation oncology
• Surgery

Care Team

At OSF, you can expect a cancer care team that’s more than just skin deep. Your multidisciplinary skin cancer team typically includes specialists in dermatology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgery. These experts are some of the best in their field, and will work together across disciplines to treat your specific skin cancer.