Basal cell carcinoma epidemiology and demographics

Epidemiology
Basal cell cancer is the most common skin cancer. It is much more common in fair skinned individuals with a family history of basal cell cancer and increases in incidence closer to the equator or at higher altitude. According to Skin Cancer Foundation R, there are approximately 800,000 new cases yearly in the United States alone.

Most sporadic BCC arise in small numbers on sun-exposed skin of people over age 50, although younger people may also be affected. The development of multiple basal cell cancer at an early age could be indicative of Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.