Skin Cancer

Types of Skin Cancer & Treatments

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide.

  • 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
  • More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
  • Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
  • When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.

Three Most Common Types

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Both basal and squamous cell carcinomas are found in areas that receive sun exposure, including the face, ears, chest, hands and neck, but can also appear on other areas. These three types can present on the skin as scaly patches, red spots or red bumps that won’t disappear; flesh-hued bump, open sore that does not heal, hard red bump with scaling or crusting, or a pimple that does not heal. Melanoma is often mistaken for a mole, and in fact some moles can develop into this form of skin cancer.

Mohs Surgery

During your appointment, one of our board-certified dermatologists will evaluate your skin to determine whether the mole or lesion in question is suspicious. Your dermatologist will biopsy any suspicious looking marks and will then send it to the lab for a reading If your results come back positive, then we will discuss your surgical options with you. At Schweiger Dermatology, we are proud to offer surgical excision, Mohs surgery and other medical treatments that safely and effectively remove the cancer from your skin.

Early Detection Can Save Lives

The best and safest way to detect skin cancer is by visiting a licensed skin care provider, such as a board-certified dermatologist or a certified physician assistant for your annual skin check. However, there are warning signs that you should be on the lookout for at home as well. Watch out for any of the following changes to moles on your body:

  • Changes in size
  • Changes in color
  • Changes in shape
  • If it starts to bleed, itch or ooze

Melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form and impacts thousands in the US every year.

Mohs Surgery

One of the most innovative and successful treatments for this type of cancer is Mohs micrographic surgery.

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