Nonmelanoma skin cancer is already the most common cancer in the United States, but new estimates suggest it is considerably more widespread than the figure the healthcare industry has cited for more than a decade. According to a new analysis by SkinCure Oncology, approximately 4.7 million Americans are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer annually — 42 percent more than the previously reported 3.3 million. That works out to nearly 13,000 individuals every day.
The earlier 3.3 million figure stems from research published in 2015 that relied on data collected in 2012. The updated analysis accounts for historical growth in diagnoses, independent federal healthcare survey data and a major demographic shift: since 2012, the U.S. population aged 65 and older has grown nearly 50 percent, reaching roughly 64 million in 2026. Nonmelanoma skin cancer disproportionately affects older Americans, so that aging trend carries substantial weight in the revised estimate. The disease's two most common forms are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and the country lacks a comprehensive system for tracking either one.
The implications extend beyond statistics. While highly treatable when detected early, nonmelanoma skin cancer is a serious disease that can cause significant tissue damage, disfigurement and, in some cases, life-threatening complications. "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, a step that could give researchers, policymakers and clinicians a clearer picture of incidence trends and resource needs.
Treatment options have advanced alongside the growing patient population. Surgery, including Mohs micrographic surgery, remains an effective and widely used approach. For appropriate patients, however, 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 do not 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 readers, the revised estimate is a reminder that skin cancer checks and informed conversations with physicians matter more than ever, and that the range of available treatments may be broader than expected. Those seeking information about nonsurgical options and providers of the GentleCure Experience can visit GentleCure.com.
