Skin Cancer
There are three basic forms of skin cancer. The two most common are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas which account for 90 percent of all cases. The third kind, and the most dangerous, is malignant melanoma which can spread throughout the body. When detected early and treated properly, the recovery rate for all three types can be high.

In order to detect skin cancer early, you should examine your skin regularly for any unusual lesions and changes in size, shape, color or diameter of moles. Protecting your skin from the sun is also important as 90 percent of all basal and squamous cell carcinomas are thought to be caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light.

The treatment of skin cancer requires removal of the lesion plus a margin of healthy tissue for safety. Moh’s micrographic surgery is used by Dermatology Specialists, Inc. for certain skin cancers located on the face or other cosmetically sensitive areas. During this procedure, the tumor is removed and divided into sections. Tissue-thin slices are examined under the microscope to determine if there is any malignancy in the outer areas.

If so, more tissue is removed and the process repeats until the doctor is reasonably certain no cancer remains. While this procedure is time consuming, it saves as much normal skin as possible. It is also quite cost-effective since fewer return visits are needed for treatment of recurring lesions. For more information about skin cancer treatment, please call our office at 1-800-357-0222 .