Surgical excision or Mohs' Surgery WITH reconstruction (not second intention) often have the fastest healing time. Topical creams can look irritated for a few weeks. Radiation can result in "radiation dermatitis" that can look very irritated for a few weeks or longer.

Topical treatments (creams) usually have the best cosmetic outcome. Radiation can have a great outcome, but should be reserved for those whom are not surgical candidates or who are older. Mohs' surgery does not result in a "bad scar", it is the "reconstructive surgery" after the Mohs' that will determine how the wound will look to a large degree.

Skin Cancer Detection | Skin Cancer Treatment

Good versus Bad Dermatologist

A "competent" Dermatologist looks at a lesion and is fairly certain that it is cancer.

A good and honest Dermatologist takes a biopsy of a suspicious lesion and 50% or more of the time it is cancer. Sometimes patients will state that they don't like their dermatologist because they always take biopsies. If a Dermatologist takes biopsies and they prove to be cancerous, they are doing their job! If they take biopsies and they always seem to be benign, it is time to find a new Dermatologist!

A "bad" or dishonest Dermatologist takes biopsies that nearly always prove to be benign. This is not a "thorough" Dermatologist as these are unnecessary biopsies. This is someone that I would not want to be my Dermatologist.

If you are searching for "an honest and reliable skin cancer detection center near me', RSB Dermatology is here to help.

Skin Cancer Screenings & Why You Should Get It

It is well known that skin cancer screenings should be a part of most peoples general care. Most cancers that are treated in my office (approximately 70%) are found during these screenings--not during routine physical examinations, not by patients, not by any other physician.

These screenings are a VISUAL inspection. It is recommended that one get completely undressed and examined from head to toe. There is no substitute for this type of screening.

If you are looking for a 'skin cancer screening near me', RSB Dermatology is here to help!

How is Skin Cancer Treated

There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options available for many types of skin cancer.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS FOR SKIN CANCER

A decision on which treatment to choose is a patient's decision. Dr. Bader will discuss the options with you and will be based on several factors, which are listed below.

Based on those 5 factors, a patient can make a choice on what is best for him/her depending upon their own priorities. There is no single treatment that is best for every person, every tumor, or every situation. Treatment must be personalized for each individual.

If you are looking for an 'honest and reliable opinion or skin cancer treatment near me', RSB Dermatology is here to help.

Cure Rate

As far as surgical cure, Mohs' Micrographic Surgery has the lowest recurrence rate of any treatment for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma in situ, dermatofibroma sarcoma protuberans, atypical fibrohistiocytoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and some other tumors.

Radiation has the second lowest recurrence rate for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (as low as 3% for untreated cancers).

Healing Time

After-Care Required

Sutured wounds (from excision or Mohs' with reconstruction) usually require the least amount of after-care. Electrodesiccation and curettage requires once or twice daily wound care for 3 weeks to 3 months or even longer. Radiation may require some care in the event of acute radiation dermatitis that may occur. In some cases, skin ulceration occurs after radiation, for larger lesions or those on the lower extremities, that can take months to heal.

Cost

The topical creams are often the least expensive option ($16-28 + office visit charges), while radiation is often the most expensive ($4000 to over $30,000). Surgeries that are performed in a doctor's office are far less expensive than those performed in a surgery center, even when in a doctor's office, or hospital. If another doctor closes a wound after Mohs' surgery, the cost is usually twice as much as when the Mohs' surgeon closes the wound immediately after Mohs'.

Cosmetic Outcome

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How is Skin Cancer Diagnosed

Skin cancer detection: The diagnosis of skin cancer is most often done by a visual inspection. Dr. Bader will look at the lesion and make a determination whether or not it is likely or possibly malignant. For some pigmented lesions, dermoscopy (a magnifying lens with a light at the periphery) can be used to assist in this decision making process.

When a cancer is suspected, a skin biopsy is taken, sent to a laboratory, and evaluated under the microscope by a Dermatopathologist. In many cases, special tests are performed to look at specific proteins that may be present that are more likely to be found in certain benign and malignant tumors. A diagnosis will be given based on that pathological examination under the microscope.

While there are some electronic or photographic devices or apps that can help "assist" with this process, there is nothing that is better than the well-trained naked eye of a board-certified Dermatologist.

How is a skin cancer screening performed?

People are commonly surpised when we ask them to disrobe for this screening process. A skin cancer screening is visual--we look at the patient, preferably from head to toe. We cannot screen patients like they do in an airport--fully dressed and scanned by a machine. The doctor must see the skin.

If you are in need of a 'skin cancer screening near me', look no further.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

This is the most common skin cancer and is rarely life threatening. If left untreated for many, many years it can be a serious problem. There are several different subtypes of basal cell carcinoma that are based on characteristics seen under the microscope (pathology).

Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options exist. One must take into account the location of the tumor, the histological subtype, and the size of the tumor when considering different treatment options.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

Dr. Bader authored the chapter on basal cell carcinoma in Medscape, the leading Dermatology online textbook. Click here to see this chapter.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This tumor is caused by the sun when it occurs on sun-exposed skin. On other areas, such as the groin or around the nails, human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes warts, is often the cause.

This tumor may be non-invasive (squamous cell carcinoma in situ, intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma, intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma) at which stage it does not spread. Invasive tumors (superficial squamous cell carcinoma, invasive squamous cell carcinoma) have the capacity to spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. In general, the risk of spread is approximately 3%, except when tumors appear on the lip or ear. Tumors on the lip or ear have a significantly higher risk of spreading to the lymph nodes (up to 15%). and prompt and complete removal is recommended.

Both surgical and non-surgical treatments exist. Treatment options will vary based on whether the tumor is invasive or not, the location of the tumor, the size of the tumor, the depth of the tumor, the age of the patient, and the overall health of the patient.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Malignant Melanoma

This is the third most common form of skin cancer. In most cases, these present as a irregularly shaped, pigmented lesion with irregular borders. Some types of melanoma may have no pigment and may be regular in shape. Many patients will report increasing size.

If a lesion is suspicious, Dr. Bader will take a biopsy and will discuss treatment options with you.

For all invasive melanomas, surgical treatment (excision or Mohs) is recommended. For non-invasive tumors (lentigo maligna or melanoma in situ), surgical removal (excision or Mohs) is the treatment of choice, although elderly or patients whom are not surgical candidates may consider imiquimod topical cream.