Not all skin cancers are the same. The three most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas look like raised, translucent, pearly nodules and are found most often on the head, neck, hands and trunk. The most prevalent skin cancer found in Caucasians, basal cell carcinoma, also occurs, although less frequently, in dark-skinned individuals. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 300,000 to 400,000 new cases are being reported each year.