Skin Cancer Screening

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer, the abnormal growth of skin cells most often develops on skin exposed to the sun but can also occur on other areas of your body. The major types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

How do you treat skin cancer?

Surgical excision, Mohs surgery (not performed at our facility), topical chemotherapeutic agents and PDT are used to treat various types of skin cancer.

Types of Skin Cancer

FAQ

  • A skin cancer screening is a visual exam of the skin that can be done by yourself or a health care provider. The screening checks the skin for moles, birthmarks, or other marks that are unusual in color, size, shape, or texture. Certain unusual marks may be signs of skin cancer.

  • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States; in fact, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. People of all colors and races can get skin cancer. There are many different types of skin cancer, including actinic keratoses (AK), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. BCC and SCC are the most common forms of skin cancer, but melanoma is the most deadly. With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for BCC and SCC is about 95 percent. When melanoma is detected before it spreads, it also has a high cure rate. Regular self-skin exams and a yearly examination by a dermatologist help people find early skin cancers.

  • Screenings take approximately 10 minutes, including completing the paperwork and getting your skin checked.

  • There are no risks to having a skin cancer screening.