Five Warning Signs of Skin Cancer
Early Detection May Save Your Life
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in more than 2 million people.
Five Warning Signs of Skin Cancer
Early Detection May Save Your Life
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in more than 2 million people.
One in Five Americans Will Develop Skin Cancer
It’s a sobering statistic but one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
Contour Dermatology diagnosed more than 2,000 skin cancers last year and approximately 100 cases of malignant melanoma. The importance of wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day cannot be overemphasized. Lengthy time spent outdoors requires taking even greater precautions. Diligence also needs to extend to performing regular self-examinations of the skin and scheduling a yearly routine dermatologist visit. These critical steps increase the chances of detecting skin cancer early, before treatment becomes more challenging.
What to look for
Basically when you perform a monthly self-examination, you’re looking for changes in the shape or size of spots or moles and other irregularities. Focus on your neck, chest and torso, and use a bright light, full-length mirror, hand-mirror and blow dryer to inspect hard-to-see areas such as the scalp and back of the neck. If you can, enlist a spouse or partner to help you.
Get an Annual Screening
Regular skin cancer screenings are essential for early detection and effective treatment. At Contour Dermatology, our specialists conduct thorough, non-invasive visual inspections of the entire body, typically lasting two to three minutes. This proactive approach allows us to identify and treat thousands of pre-cancerous skin lesions annually, preventing their progression into more serious conditions.
If skin cancer is detected, particularly basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, we offer both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. Dr. Timothy Jochen is renowned for his expertise in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, a precise technique that removes skin cancer layer by layer, ensuring minimal tissue loss and excellent aesthetic outcomes. This outpatient procedure allows for immediate microscopic examination of the removed tissue, ensuring complete cancer removal during the treatment.
In addition to Mohs surgery, we provide Image-Guided Superficial Radiotherapy (IGSRT) as a non-invasive alternative. IGSRT utilizes low levels of X-ray energy to target and eliminate cancer cells, preserving surrounding healthy tissue. This method is particularly beneficial for patients seeking a non-surgical option. Studies have demonstrated that IGSRT achieves high rates of tumor control, making it an effective treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers.
By offering a comprehensive range of treatments, including both surgical and non-surgical options, we tailor our approach to meet each patient’s unique needs, ensuring optimal health outcomes and quality of life.
