Skin cancer is the most common – and treatable – form of cancer, especially when caught early. If you have been diagnosed with either nonmelanoma or melanoma cancer, you can trust us for education, early detection and screening, what to expect and next steps after a diagnosis.
When you’re diagnosed with cancer, every day counts. We help you review and understand your options quickly. Our compassionate care team provides in-depth expertise, and your care team will be with you every step of the way so you can begin treatment within days after cancer is detected.
Skin cancer detection and diagnosis
You play a vital role in early detection of skin cancer. Contact your doctor if you notice a change in your skin, like the appearance of a small, white or pink bump with a smooth surface, red spots that are dry, rough or scaly, or a sore that bleeds and does not heal after two to four weeks. Pay particular attention to 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. 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.
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.
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