The answer to this question depends on the type of skin cancer that a person is diagnosed with. Generally speaking, the longer a person can live with skin cancer depends on the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed. If the cancer is caught early, before it has spread to other parts of the body, then the prognosis is generally more favorable and the patient may be able to live for years with the disease.
If a person is diagnosed with melanoma, which is the most serious form of skin cancer, the outlook is less favorable. If the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, then the patient may only have a few months to a few years to live. However, if the melanoma is caught early and completely removed from the body, then the patient may be able to live for many years without any recurrence of the cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common forms of skin cancer. If these cancers are caught early and treated, then most patients can expect to live for many years with the disease. However, if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, then the patient's prognosis may be more serious.
Overall, the length of time a person can live with skin cancer depends on the type of cancer they have, its stage at the time of diagnosis, and how quickly it is treated. If the cancer is caught early and treated promptly, then the patient may be able to live for many years with the disease.