Understanding and Addressing Skin Cancers at Midtown Dermatology
Skin cancer affects nearly 20 percent of Americans at some point in their lives. While potentially serious, early detection and treatment offer a high chance of cure. Often, patients notice changes in their skin, signaling the need for professional evaluation. Midtown Dermatology is dedicated to helping patients identify and treat skin cancer effectively.
Navigating Skin Cancer with Midtown Dermatology: Prevention and early detection skin cancer involves wearing sunscreen outdoors, self-examination, and regular dermatologist visits. These steps detect changes early, minimizing prolonged battles. Beyond distinct skin cancers, other cancers may impact the skin, such as lymphatic cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and T-cell lymphoma. Additionally, cancers originating elsewhere may spread to the skin.
Understanding Different Skin Cancer Types: Skin cancer encompasses various types, each affecting specific skin cells:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common type of skin cancer it appears as pearly pink bumps, or patches on sun-exposed areas, usually the head, neck, chest, back and upper extremities. BBC does not often spread, but can cause destruction to the site where it occurs.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Arising from squamous cells, it manifests as scaly patches, red bumps, or non-healing lesions, usually on sun-exposed skin. SCC can infrequently spread toother sites (metastasize) but when caught early can be cured.
- Melanoma: Emerging from a cell called a melanocyte, this type of skin cancer can be aggressive and spread. Early detection is crucial, with full-body exams recommended, especially for those with a history of sunburns, significant sun exposure, family history of melanoma. See the section on our website for moles for more information.
Comprehensive Screening and Treatment: Annual full-body exams, especially for those over 50, help detect skin cancer. Our team at Midtown Dermatology will assess your sun exposure history and conducts a thorough physical examination, focusing on early detection of atypical skin lesions and skin cancers.
Effective Treatment at Midtown Dermatology: Treatment depends on factors including cancer type, stage, size, and location on the body. Midtown Dermatology offers diverse options:
- Cryosurgery: Liquid nitrogen freezes and removes affected areas.
- Electrodesiccation: Heat eliminates lesions
- Curettage: Dead skin is scraped away.
- Topical or Intralesional Chemotherapy: Treatment focused to the cancer cells, leaving normal tissue minimally effected.
- Excision: Surgical removal of the skin cancer.
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery: Precise surgical removal of cancerous tissue for larger lesions, more aggressive types of skin cancer, or more cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face and ears. Your personalized treatment plan will be discussed during the consultation. Dr. Jacqueline Guidry is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Midtown Dermatology. See section on surgical dermatology for more information.
Partnering for Healthy Skin: With Midtown Dermatology, you are not alone in your skin cancer journey. Empowering education and comprehensive treatment pave the way for effective management and positive outcomes. Schedule a consultation and skin examination to embark on your path to healthier skin today.
