What You Should Know About National Skin Cancer Month
When the sun starts shining and the temperatures rise in New England, we all want to be outdoors. However, the sun can be quite dangerous to our skin. Skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., as 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. Here are a few facts from the American Academy of Dermatology:
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Melanoma is estimated to affect 1 in 27 men and 1 in 40 women in their lifetime.
It is estimated that approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
Research estimates that nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), affects more than 3 million Americans a year.
More than 1 million Americans are living with melanoma.
Melanoma rates in the United States have been rising rapidly over the past 30 years — doubling from 1982 to 2011.
Before age 50, rates are higher in women compared to men. After age 50, and in general, men have higher rates.
Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of skin color. Skin cancer in patients with darker skin tones is often diagnosed in its later stages, when it’s more difficult to treat.
Can You Prevent Skin Cancer?
Yes! Early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and regular skin exams are critical. Take these steps to prevent skin cancer:
Wear sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing when outside, even on the shadiest of days
Stay in the shade from 10 am to 4 pm
Do not sunburn or use a tanning bed
Keep newborns out of the sun, and do not use sunscreen until the baby is six months old
Dr. Findley prefers zinc oxide sunscreens and protective clothing/hats on her kids and herself
A base tan for the summer does NOT protect you from getting burned throughout the summer
Perform self-examination of your skin regularly
Get an annual whole-body exam from a board-certified dermatologist
Is Early Detection of Skin Cancer Possible?
Early detection means treatment is more likely to be successful! Give yourself a full body check by examining your head, face, ears, neck, upper back, hands, and arms. If you see or feel a suspicious-looking new lesion that bleeds, oozes, or crusts, doesn’t ever totally heal, or lasts longer than a month, see a dermatologist for an evaluation immediately. When detected and treated early, most skin cancers can be cured. Check your moles for these warning signs:
A: Asymmetry - When one part of the mole does not match the other part
B: Borders - The mole’s borders are irregular with ragged, notched or blurred edges
C: Color - When the mole’s color is not uniform, and there are areas of tan, brown, pink or black
D: Diameter - The diameter of the mole is greater than the size of a pencil eraser.
E: Evolution - The mole evolves and changes.
Treatment Options & Mohs Surgery
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, the recommended treatment options and regimens will vary for patients depending on several factors, some of which include the type, anatomic location, and prior treatments of skin cancer. Potential treatments are topical chemotherapy, cryosurgery, surgical excision, and Mohs surgery.
Why are the Success Rates of Mohs Surgery So High?
Mohs surgery is the most effective and advanced treatment, offering up to a 99% success rate for many types of skin cancer. Because the surgeon is both operating and reading the pathology, this treatment allows for complete visualization of all tissue margins at the time of surgery. Mohs surgery removes the skin cancer layer by layer. Each layer is scrutinized under a microscope until healthy cancer-free tissue is reached. Microscope-based removal saves the largest amount of healthy tissue. By minimizing the removal of the normal surrounding skin, it creates a smaller defect or wound, which often leads to a simpler reconstruction and easier recovery. Since this procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, the risk for the patient is quite small, even in those with a complicated medical history. Often performed on an outpatient basis, the surgeon can spare as much normal skin as possible to have the maximum amount of tissue for good healing and reconstruction.
Are there Differences in Mohs Surgeons?
Mohs surgeons are trained as a cancer surgeon, a pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon. Completing a one-year rigorous surgical fellowship in Mohs surgery and cutaneous oncology, complex reconstruction, and cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Findley is one of the few surgeons in Rhode Island practicing Mohs for melanoma.
Dr. Findley has over 10 years of experience performing thousands of advanced surgical procedures for benign and cancerous skin lesions. Patients are being referred to Findley Dermatology from across Southern New England for this procedure. All dermatologic surgeons may obtain their board certification in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery from the American Board of Dermatology. However, far fewer Mohs surgeons have completed a one-year rigorous surgical fellowship, providing specialized training to practice as a skin cancer surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon in a single visit. We encourage anyone who is having Mohs Surgery to ask their doctor if they have completed fellowship training for this highly specialized treatment.