Which skin cancer has the poorest chance of cure and spreads rapidly?

Malignant melanoma is known for having the poorest chance of cure and spreads rapidly compared to other types of skin cancer. This is primarily due to its aggressive nature and tendency to metastasize, which means it can spread quickly to other parts of the body, including vital organs.

Melanoma originates from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells located primarily in the skin. When melanoma develops, its early signs might be noticed as changes in existing moles or the appearance of new, unusual moles. Because it can often go unnoticed in its initial stages, early detection can be challenging.

Once it has progressed beyond the earliest stage, the treatment becomes more complex and the prognosis worse. Malignant melanoma also has a high rate of recurrence even after treatment, depending on the stage at the time of diagnosis. This ranges from localized treatments like surgery being effective in early stages to chemotherapy and immunotherapy being required for advanced cases, which underscores its aggressive behavior.

In contrast, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are generally more treatable, especially when caught early, and they do not tend to spread as rapidly or widely as melanoma does. Merkel cell carcinoma is rare and aggressive but does not have the same prevalence as melanoma. Thus, malignant melanoma stands out