SKIN CANCER

Skin Cancer Warning Signs - More than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Anyone can get skin cancer, though the chances are greater if your parent, sibling or child has had a melanoma. A change in a mole can indicate a serious problem. Your dermatologist should be seen if you notice that a mole becomes larger, changes color, is asymmetric, or develops an irregular border. Other warning signs include itching, crusting, pain, and bleeding. Extensive and potentially disfiguring surgery can often be prevented by prompt biopsy and surgical removal of moles that are changing.

There are two kinds of skin tumors - benign (non–cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). Cancerous skin tumors fall into one of three types:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. This type is rarely life threatening and does not spread. It can be inherited, but usually occurs in patients who have had repeated sun exposure. Patients that develop a Basal Cell cancer have a 60% chance of developing another one within five years.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma is another common type of skin cancer that is rarely life threatening. It is most often found in people with fair complexions. This type may develop from an Actinic (Solar) Keratosis, which is a scaly, crusty bump on sun–damaged skin. They can appear as a red bump, or may seem like an ulcer or a sore that won’t heal. They can range in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in diameter.
• Malignant Melanoma is the least common but most serious form of skin cancer. It usually appears as a dark brown or black mole with uneven borders and irregular color, with shades of black/blue, red, or white. Melanoma most commonly occurs on the upper backs of men and women, as well as the lower legs of women. It can also develop on the face and other areas of the body. This cancer usually stems from a mole that has been present for many years. If treated early, results are good.

Skin Cancer Treatment Options – Treatment for skin cancer varies according to the location, extent, aggressiveness of the cancer, and the patient’s general health. There are many treatment options available that include scraping and burning, freezing, lasers, radiation, routine excision, and Mohs surgery. Cancer cells must be completely removed or they can lead to regrowth and recurrence of the tumor. Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery physicians can assist you in choosing the most appropriate treatment option. We are the only Mohs surgery center in the Austin area with an on–site plastic surgeon available for closures that ensure the most minimal scarring possible.

Mohs Surgery – Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery is a certified Mohs surgery center. Mohs surgery combines the surgical removal of the tumor with the immediate microscopic examination of the tumor and underlying diseased tissue. This process allows for the immediate identification, removal, and examination of the entire tumor and roots layer–by–layer until the cancer is completely gone. Mohs surgery has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for certain types of skin cancer, with a cure rate of up to 99% for certain cancers. Mohs surgery provides the most precise method for removal of all cancerous tissue, while sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue. For this reason, Mohs surgery typically results in a significantly smaller surgical defect and less noticeable scarring, as compared to other methods of skin cancer treatment.

Mohs surgery is effective for most types of skin cancer and is commonly used to treat Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas. It is the treatment of choice for recurring cancers, large cancers, cancers where the edges cannot be clearly defined, or in areas where it is important to preserve healthy tissue for the maximum functional and cosmetic results.

Your risks of skin cancer can be reduced when you protect yourself from the sun, are aware of suspicious growths, and visit your dermatologist for regular check–ups.