Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer

1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and one person dies from melanoma every hour. Risk factors include regular sun exposure or intermittent sunburns, fair skin, numerous moles, and a family history.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and often presents as a pink bleeding skin growth.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer and often appears as a crusty, warty growth and scaly, pink patch.

More than 3.5 million of these two types of skin cancer are diagnosed in 2 million people in the US yearly. These skin cancers are easily treated and have a very low chance of metastasis when caught early.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It often presents following the ABCDE criteria: asymmetry, irregular borders, color variation, diameter larger than 6mm, and evolution or change. Melanoma detected in the early stages has a 5 year survival rate of greater than 95%, however when detected late, survival can be as low as 16%.

A skin examination is a visual inspection of the skin by a trained Dermatologist often in combination with a tool called a dermatoscope which allows your doctor to better differentiate benign, precancerous and cancerous skin growths

Most skin cancers can be treated in the office with a combination of topical chemotherapy creams, electrodessication & curettage (scraping procedure), or surgery. If Mohs surgery is needed, your Dermatologist will discuss referring you to a fellowship trained surgeon.

You should see your Dermatologist for a yearly skin examination or more often if you have certain risk factors. Any new or changing lesions should be evaluated sooner.

Make an appointment today for your skin examination

Make an appointment today for your skin examination