Skin Cancer Is On The Rise and The Most Common Form of Cancer
Our
board-certified dermatology team specialize in the prevention,
detection and removal of skin cancers through various methods depending
on the type of skin cancer, the anatomic location, and the needs of the
patient. Surgery to remove skin cancer is performed in the comfort of
our in-office medical suites. Dermasurgeon Dr. Eric Finzi specializes
in Mohs Micrographic Surgery for body areas with limited skin tissue
like the nose, ears, around the eyes and lips. His training as both an
artist and dermasurgeon allows him to close and repair the skin
with pleasing aesthetic results and limited scarring for his patients.
Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all types of cancers. The most common forms of skin cancer are actinic keratoses (AK), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma,
the deadliest form. The non-surgical skin cancer treatments we use are
Cryotherapy (deep freezing) for pre-cancerous lesions, Photodynamic
Therapy using Levulan, and topical chemotherapy. The three surgical
methods we perform to remove skin cancer are excision, physical
destruction, and Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
A family
history of skin cancer and fair-skinned people who sunburn easily are
at a much higher risk for developing skin cancer. Other less common
factors include repeated medical and industrial x-ray exposure, scarring
from diseases or burns, and occupational exposure to compounds such as
coal tar and arsenic.
Schedule your full body skin cancer screening with one of our board-certified dermatologists today! Call 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!
Know The A, B, C, D, E's of Skin Cancer
The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that more than one
million Americans develop skin cancer every year. Make an appointment
with our dermatology team immediately if any of your moles or pigmented
spots exhibits the following characteristics:
-
One half is unlike the other half.
-
An irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.
Is varied from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown, or black; is sometimes white, red, or blue.
Melanomas usually are greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.
Skin Cancer Facts
More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the
United States this year making skin cancer the most common form of
cancer in humans. Excessive exposure to the sun is the single most
important factor associated with the development of skin cancers.
People with fair skin are at a higher risk than dark-skinned people, and
the more sun exposure they receive, the more likely they are to develop
skin cancer. Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop
skin cancer in their lifetime.
Early Detection & Treatment Saves Lives
Our Board-Certified Dermatology team has seen a rise in patients with skin cancer in our practice. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common forms of skin cancer, but are easily treated if detected early. Malignant melanoma
is the most deadly of all skin cancers. More than 75% of skin cancer
deaths are from melanoma. The five year survival rate for people whose
melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is
99%. Unfortunately, one American dies of melanoma almost every hour
(every 62 minutes), a preventable death.
Schedule your full body skin cancer screening with one of our board-certified dermatologists today! Call 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!
Sun Safety Tips
- Generously apply a water-resistant broad-spectrum ultraviolet A
(UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPEW) of 30 or higher at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply
frequently, especially after swimming, perspiring, or drying off with a
towel. Use extra caution in the pool, on the beach, and on the ski
slopes because water, sand and snow reflect UV rays, increasing your
chance of getting a sunburn.
- Seek shade, and when possible, avoid outdoor activities in the sun from 10 AM to 4 PM, when harmful UV rays are the strongest.
- Get Vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes
supplements. Vitamin D supplements of 1000 units per day are
recommended in lieu of direct sun exposure for 15 minutes per day.
- Wear a hat with a 4-inch brim all around to protect areas often
over exposed to the sun such as the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose,
and scalp.
- Wear protective clothing to cover as much skin as possible such
as a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Today, there are many clothing lines that have sun protective qualities
built in, and there are laundry detergents you can use that wash in sun
protective factors.
- Use mineral-based cosmetics with built in titanium protection and lip shields with an SPF of at least 15.
- Children need extra protection from the sun. One or two
blistering sunburns before the age of 18 dramatically increase the risk
of skin cancer. Encourage children to play in the shade, wear protective
clothing and apply sunscreen regularly.
- Avoid tanning beds! Ultraviolet light from tanning beds cause
skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look sun-kissed without UV
exposure, use a sunless self-tanning cream, but continue to use
sunscreen with it.
Resources: American Academy of Dermatology, American Cancer Society, Skin Cancer Foundation