According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer only makes up about two percent of all the types of cancer that affect Black Americans. However, they still have worse outcomes. For example, the most common skin cancer that Black people are most likely to deal with is squamous cell carcinoma and they have a 71 percent survival rate after five years. In comparison, white people with the same condition have a 94 percent survival rate after the same time. Doctors suggest that one of the reasons for this discrepancy is that most Black Americans get diagnosed with skin cancer in its late stages when treatment can be more difficult. Fortunately, you can increase your chances of an early diagnosis if you know what to look for and where to assess.
That’s why Dr. Misha Faustina breaks down how skin cancer affects Black people and ways it can look different on Black skin.
