When Deerfield Beach area patients have been faced with a skin cancer diagnosis, their immediate reaction is fear. Hearing the word “cancer” is never a good thing, but thankfully, skin cancer is one of the easier cancers to treat with the highest success rates. A skin cancer diagnosis is just the start of a journey that requires patients to work closely with their dermatologist to treat and prevent future risks. One in five people in the United States will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, but this doesn’t make it any less concerning.
A skin cancer diagnosis starts with determining the type of skin cancer. Most diagnosed are non-melanoma skin cancers, which may include basal cell carcinoma (referred to as BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (also known as SCC). They are essentially curable as long as they are detected early enough. Even non-melanoma skin cancers result in over 3,000 US deaths a year, so it is essential that patients speak with their dermatologist about the best method of treatment once a biopsy shows positive results for skin cancer.
There are surgical and nonsurgical approaches to addressing skin cancer.
Surgical
Surgical solutions are often to remove the area of cancerous skin cells, tumors, skin growths, or moles that have developed cancer. The surgical procedure is often determined based on the size and type of cancer. Patients may have scarring after their cancer has been removed, but this is not nearly as concerning as leaving the cancer in the body to manifest into larger areas or spread throughout the body. Surgical solutions may include excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, or curettage and electrodesiccation.
Non-surgical
Non-surgical treatments may also be considered, including topical treatments, radiation, cryosurgery, or photodynamic therapy (PDT).
If you have recently received a positive skin cancer diagnosis and you are ready to address your concerns with the help of a board-certified dermatologist, speak to us at Rendon Center for Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine. We recommend that patients visit our practice at least once a year for preventative care such as skin cancer screenings.
