Yes, skin cancer can kill you, especially if it is aggressive or has spread beyond the skin. Melanoma causes most skin cancer deaths, although some non-melanoma skin cancers can also be life-threatening.
The risk depends greatly on the type of skin cancer and how advanced it is when found. With melanoma, thicker tumors, ulceration, involvement of nearby lymph nodes, and spread to distant organs are linked to a worse outlook. Melanoma can spread to many parts of the body, including the lungs and liver.
Early detection can make a major difference. Thin melanomas that are still limited to the skin have a much lower risk of causing death than thicker or more advanced tumors. Survival has also improved in recent years, including for some people with advanced melanoma, because of newer treatments.
[articleLink_simple:what-melanoma-looks-like]
Any suspicious or changing skin lesion should be evaluated rather than ignored. A dermatologist can examine the area and determine whether testing or treatment is needed. Avoid trying to diagnose or treat a possible skin cancer on your own.