Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, but it’s also highly preventable and treatable when detected early. Our dermatologists offer expertise in preventing and finding skin cancer, as well as helping people with existing skin tumors and cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of skin cancer include a new, or changing, mole, a bump that itches or bleeds, a sore that won’t heal, or a red, scaly patch of skin that may blister and ooze. If you have any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your doctor right away.
Our doctors can diagnose Dr Tina Fang – Skin Cancer Clinic by doing a physical exam and asking you about your past health. They may also ask you to describe the changes in a suspicious mole or growth, and will use a magnifying device to examine it closely. They will then take a small sample of the growth to send to a lab for testing, or perform a biopsy on a larger growth. If you have a melanoma, your doctor will do tests to check how far it has spread.
There are several types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis. These all form in cells in the outer layer of your skin epidermis. Melanoma forms in cells called melanocytes that produce pigment, or color, in your skin. It is the most serious type of skin cancer, and can spread to other areas of your body.
Skin cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments. For example, he or she may prescribe a lotion or cream with cancer-killing drugs that you apply directly to your skin. More advanced cancers may require chemotherapy medications that you take by mouth or intravenously. Other treatment options for more advanced cancers may include photodynamic therapy or immunotherapy.
Everyone should do regular self-exams to look for changes in their skin. Check all areas of your body, including the scalp, ears, back of your neck, palms of your hands and soles of your feet, and any moles you have. Also, be sure to get a full-body skin screening from your doctor every year. Our SPOT Skin Cancer Screening program has conducted more than 2.8 million free screenings since its inception, saving countless lives by finding melanomas when they are still thin and easy to treat.