Skin cancer is a very serious condition that affects millions of Americans each and every year. It can develop in people of all ages, and is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Studies show that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.
At Dermatology Consultants, our skilled dermatologists have a wide range of options for treating skin cancers, including surgical removal of the tissue, cryosurgery (freezing the cells), laser removal and photodynamic therapy (using a light-sensitive medication with a laser), and Superficial Radiation Therapy (treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer). Skin cancer surgery is usually done right in our office and typically takes only a few minutes.
When one of our dermatologists detects cells that may be cancerous in your skin, he or she will conduct a thorough examination, typically involving a biopsy, to make an accurate diagnosis. Then he or she will determine if surgery is right for you, and what kind of treatment is ideal for your case.
There are 3 main types of skin cancer:
A fourth type of cancer, Merkel cell cancer is a highly aggressive, or fast-growing, rare cancer. It starts in hormone-producing cells just beneath the skin and in the hair follicles. It is usually found in the head and neck region. Merkel cell cancer may also be called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.
Starting at the age of 20, we encourage our patients to perform monthly self-examinations for skin cancer, especially if it runs in your family. We recommend that patients use the ABCDE system for checking your moles.
Additionally, you should come in and have the doctors do a full-body examination at least once a year, more if you have a history of skin cancer. Our skilled dermatologists will examine your skin for suspicious moles or lesions, and take samples, if necessary, to be biopsied by a pathologist. If we detect the three forms of skin cancer – Basal Cell, Squamous Cell or Melanoma – the dangerous cells can be removed.
Mohs is a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer, where thin layers of cancer-containing skin are removed and examined repeatedly until only cancer-free tissue remains. This procedure allows for minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue and is usually done on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic.
We also can remove benign or malignant growths, such as moles, lesions, and tumors, from your skin. Usually performed using local anesthesia, which ensures that you feel no pain during the procedure.
Dermatology Consultants has Mohs Surgeons on staff. These board-certified dermatologists are specially trained in skin cancer and reconstructive surgery accredited through the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS).
SRT treatments are performed in office a Dermatology Consultants by a Radiation Therapy (RTT). With a 99% cure rate and patient satisfaction, SRT is the ideal treatment to treat non-melanoma skin cancer without surgery. LEARN MORE.
Although dark-skinned people have a natural protection against skin cancer, that doesn’t mean it can’t occur. It does – most frequently where skin is lightest, such as the palms, soles of the feet, and around the nail bed. This is most true for Asians, Native Americans, and people of African descent. In Hispanics, melanoma occurs most frequently on the legs. Because it is frequently misdiagnosed as plantar warts (on the soles of the feet), tinea manuum (a fungus occurring on the palms of the hands), or a condition known as talon noir or black heel, and because many people do not seek treatment early on, the melanoma death rate is highest among people with dark skin. The lifesaving answers lie in awareness and early diagnosis.
*source: skincancer.org
