Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in the United States, but new estimates suggest it is even more widespread than previously believed. According to a new analysis by SkinCure Oncology, approximately 4.7 million Americans are diagnosed with NMSC each year—42 percent more than the long-cited figure of 3.3 million. That translates to nearly 13,000 new diagnoses every day.
The previous estimate of 3.3 million annual cases stemmed from research published in 2015 using data collected in 2012. For more than a decade, healthcare organizations have relied on that number. The updated analysis attributes the increase to population growth, particularly among older Americans, as well as historical growth in diagnoses and independent federal healthcare survey data. Since 2012, the U.S. population aged 65 and older has grown nearly 50 percent, reaching roughly 64 million in 2026. NMSC disproportionately affects this age group.
While highly treatable when detected early, NMSC is a serious disease that can cause significant tissue damage, disfigurement, and, in some cases, life-threatening complications. The two most common forms are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite its prevalence, the country lacks a comprehensive system for tracking these cancers, which experts say hampers prevention and treatment efforts.
"Skin cancer deserves far more attention than it receives," said Kerwin Brandt, CEO of SkinCure Oncology. "Accurate information about the millions of Americans affected each year is essential to improving prevention, early detection, access to treatment and patient outcomes." The company is calling for the establishment of a national database to track the disease.
As the number of Americans affected by skin cancer has grown, treatment options have also advanced. Surgery, including Mohs micrographic surgery, remains an effective and widely used treatment. However, for appropriate patients, nonsurgical alternatives offer equally impressive results with no cutting, pain, or need for subsequent cosmetic surgery. One established approach, Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy (IGSRT), combines low-energy X-rays with high-resolution ultrasound imaging to treat skin cancer without surgery. Published clinical studies involving thousands of early-stage lesions have reported local control rates exceeding 99 percent.
GentleCure®, offered through participating dermatology practices by SkinCure Oncology, incorporates IGSRT into a comprehensive, cancer center-level model of care delivered in the dermatologist's office. Despite such advances, many patients still don't learn about nonsurgical alternatives unless they ask. "Patients deserve to know all their treatment options," Brandt said. "Our goal is to ensure patients fully understand their options, and encourage them to work with their physicians to select the optimum approach."
For more information about nonsurgical skin cancer treatment options, and to find the nearest provider of the GentleCure Experience℠, visit GentleCure.com. The new estimate underscores the growing burden of skin cancer and the importance of accurate data in shaping public health responses. As the population ages, the need for effective prevention, early detection, and access to a range of treatments becomes increasingly critical. The call for a national database reflects a broader effort to better understand and address the disease. (NewsUSA)
