Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common – and treatable – forms of cancer, especially when caught early. If you have been diagnosed with either nonmelanoma or melanoma cancer, we will help you review and understand your options quickly. Our compassionate care team of experts will be with you every step of the way.
Screening and Diagnosis
Early detection of skin cancer can save your life! Contact your doctor if you notice a change in the size, shape or color of an existing mole or an appearance of a new mole.
If your physician has a concern after your physical exam, you’ll likely be referred to our advanced imaging services and may need blood tests, dermatoscopy, a test where the skin is examined through a special magnified device, or a biopsy.
If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, our expert team can perform sentinel lymph node biopsies.
A pathologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing disease, will look at your cell samples to identify the presence of cancer and determine its type and stage.
Read about dermatology care and our imaging services.
Treatment
Your case is unique, which means your treatment plan will be designed around you and your needs. Our comprehensive team of skin cancer specialists meets weekly to collaborate on the best treatment plan for each patient. We offer:
- Same day evaluation with our interdisciplinary team of skin cancer experts
- Expedited treatment with in-office biopsy
- Fellowship-trained surgeons
- Genetic counseling
- Lymphedema therapy/massage
- Psychosocial oncology
- Financial counseling
Skin cancers are typically treated through a combination of procedures, such as surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemothe, infusion, radiation or ablation therapy.
You should always talk to your doctor about your specific treatment plan and what you can expect.
Innovative technologies offered at SCL Health
We target skin lesions and tumors with some of the most advanced treatments and technology available. One of our most innovative treatments is micrographic surgery, or Mohs. After numbing the area, your doctor will remove affected or abnormal tissue one layer at a time and look at it under a microscope. If abnormal cells are seen, the doctor continues removing tissue layer by layer. Advantages of Mohs surgery are less scarring and a shorter healing period. Plastic reconstruction is sometimes done at the same time.
Clinical Excellence That Sets Us Apart
As a comprehensive skin cancer program, we offer cutting edge treatments for skin cancer and actively participate in research and clinical trials.
While melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers, it causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths*. Gene mutations that increase melanoma risk can be passed down through families. Our ongoing melanoma research looks at these genetic risk factors to determine a patient’s risk level and appropriate treatment.
We participate in research assessing the risk of recurrent or metastatic disease based on GEP-31 testing recommended for melanoma patients.
Cancer Centers of Colorado is proud to be a member of the Southwest Oncology Group Cancer Research Network to conduct many of the clinical trials supported by the National Cancer Institute. Talk to your medical team to see if a clinical trial is recommended for your individual treatment plan.
Care and Support
Our cancer care teams know that great care is the result of seamless communication between you, your family and your existing healthcare providers. When you have this kind of collaboration, you can expect a more efficient, effective and tailored approach to meeting your individual needs.
*Key Statistics for Melanoma Skin Cancer, American Cancer Society 2020.
