Skin Cancer Prevention

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy in the world, and the incidence continues to increase worldwide. It has been estimated that over three million new skin cancer cases occur annually in the USA (Rogers et al., Arch Dermatol 146:283–287, 2010; Donaldson and Coldiron, Semin Cutan Med Surg 30(1):3–5, 2011). While the incidence of the majority of cancers is currently declining, the epidemic of skin cancer continues (Lazovich et al., Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 21(11):1893–1901, 2012). It is estimated that 5 % of the Medicare budget is used in the care of these patients (Stern, Arch Dermatol 146: 279–282, 2010). The annual costs of $29 to $39 million in morbidity and $1 billion to $3.3 billion in mortality depend on the type of skin cancer (Guy and Ekwueme, Pharmacoeconomics 29:863–874, 2011)