Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and has grown to epidemic proportions, with more than a million new cases reported every year. Because of this, careful, routine skin self-examination is recommended to note any new or changing lesions. If you find any of the following, you should make an appointment to see your dermatologist:
- Any mole that has changed in color, shape or size
- A sore that never completely heals
- A crusty or scaly lesion
- A firm, red bump that is growing quickly
- A waxy or pearly bump
Reference: CDC.gov
If any of these growths concern your dermatologist, further diagnostic tests may be performed at Colorado Springs Dermatology Clinic, PC:
Skin cancer screening
With skin cancer affecting one in five Americans and over three million new cases diagnosed every year, skin cancer is on the upswing, and routine screenings by a dermatologist are one of the best ways to catch this cancer early. However, with early detection and appropriate treatment, the cure rates for common cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are around 95 percent. A more serious form of skin cancer, melanoma, also has a high cure rate when it is detected and treated before it spreads. Melanoma grows under the top layer of skin for a long time before penetrating deeper, so it is time to be found earlier and treated promptly.
What is skin cancer screening?
Screening is simply looking for cancer before a patient experiences any symptoms since, in the early stages, abnormal skin tissue or cancerous cells are easier to treat. When symptoms become more evident, the cancer may have already started to spread.
What will the doctor look for?
The dermatologist will perform a full body skin exam, taking notes of new or changing moles, growths, or lesions. Tell your physician about any changes you have noticed, as you know your skin better than anyone. If you have noted rough areas, itching, bleeding, or changing moles, let your physician take a look.
How long does it take?
A skin screening is generally brief, taking about ten minutes. However, if a patient has had any atypical or dysplastic moles, the exam may take longer, particularly if the moles are numerous. Dysplastic moles are benign growths but could indicate a higher risk of skin cancer.
What is a self-exam?
Your doctor may instruct you on how to properly self-examine your skin. You need to know what to look for and where to do this. For example, you should not ignore easily overlooked areas like the scalp, soles of the feet, and between the toes. Removing all nail polish from fingernails and toenails is also advisable, as skin cancers can form in nails and nail beds.
What if a screening test is abnormal?
If an initial skin cancer screening is abnormal, your physician may order further diagnostic testing, such as a skin biopsy. This involves the doctor removing a layer of skin to send to a lab for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. Sometimes, the biopsy is also checked by a second pathologist as it can be difficult to tell if a skin growth is benign or malignant. Be sure to ask your doctor questions, whether recommendations for further research or concerns you have been experiencing.
Are screenings always right?
Although skin cancer screenings allow millions of skin cancers to be properly treated, there is always the chance of a false-negative or false-positive result. If screening tests appear normal even though cancer is present, this is considered a false-negative result, which may delay a patient’s getting necessary medical care even if symptoms are present. A false-positive test may indicate cancer is present when it is not, leading to unnecessary anxiety and further testing, such as biopsies, which can carry risks including scarring and infection.
What skin cancer treatments are available?
If your physician discovers skin cancer, several treatment options are available. Most can be performed on an outpatient basis at your doctor’s office or a clinic. A local anesthetic is normally used, and there is relatively little pain or discomfort during or after the procedure. What sort of treatment is pursued depends on several factors:
- The type of skin cancer, whether basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma, etc.
- What size the cancer is – larger cancers often require a different type of treatment from small cancers
- How deep the tumor has penetrated
- Where the cancer is – for example, treatments may vary whether on the face or body
- You own skin cancer and your family history of the disease.
Your doctor will weigh these different considerations and decide on a course of treatment for your case. The following are the most common skin cancer treatments:
Cryosurgery
Generally reserved for very small cancers and rough pre-cancerous areas called actinic keratosis, cryosurgery involves ‘freezing’ away the lesion with a small amount of liquid nitrogen using a spray device or a cotton-tipped applicator. No cutting is necessary, and no anesthesia is required. The procedure may be repeated several times during the same appointment to ensure the destruction of cells of all cancerous. After treatment, the growth crusts up, scabs over, and should fall off within a few weeks. Though fairly inexpensive and easily administered, cryosurgery has a lower cure rate than surgical methods.
Topical Therapy
This form of therapy involves the application of topical creams. It is generally reserved for pre-cancerous conditions like actinic keratosis and occasionally for less aggressive forms of skin cancer like superficial basal cell carcinoma. Some creams used are Efudex cream (5-fluorouracil) and Aldara cream (imiquimod). These treatments are favored when possible because they avoid surgical procedures or scarring. The downside of topical therapy is that it has a lower cure rate than surgery, and the creams may irritate the skin for weeks or months. Because the treatment may only remove a superficial portion of the tumor, deeper tumor roots may be masked.
Curettage-electrodessication
Usually used for small lesions, this procedure involves scraping off the malignant growth with a sharp-edged instrument called a curette. After removal, the skin is cauterized or heated to prevent bleeding and to remove more of the tumor; the procedure may have to be repeated a few times to ensure no cancerous cells remain. The technique works best on thin, superficial, or non-aggressive types of skin cancer on the arms or trunk.
Excision
For larger, deeper tumors, an excision may be performed. This involves cutting out the tumor and a small portion of the surrounding skin. This method usually requires stitches to control the bleeding and close the wound, and it leaves some scarring. If the tumor is particularly large, some skin grafting from another body part may be necessary.
Radiation and Chemotherapy
If your cancer has spread or other medical conditions prevent the use of other treatments, your doctor may recommend the use of radiation therapy. Administration of radiation involves directing x-ray beams directly at the tumor in a series of treatments administered over several weeks. Involving possible long-term cosmetic problems, radiation risks, and multiple visits, it is generally used for tumors that are hard to treat surgically.
Mohs Surgery
Generally used on more serious cancers, Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate of all skin cancer treatments, up to 99 percent. The advanced, state-of-the-art procedure is often used where other methods have failed and is considered the most exact method of tumor removal. Because the cancerous tissue is so precisely pinpointed in Mohs surgery, it can remove all the cancer right down to the roots with a minimum of damage to surrounding tissue, thus lessening the potential for scarring or disfigurement.
Your physician may recommend Mohs surgery if:
- Your cancer was previously treated and has recurred
- You have scar tissue in the area of the cancer
- The cancer is in a functionally or cosmetically important area, particularly on the face
- The tumor is large
- The edges of the cancerous area are relatively undefined
- The cancer is growing fast and/or uncontrollably
Learn more about Mohs surgery by scheduling a skin cancer consultation at the Mohs Surgery and Skin Cancer Center at CSDERM in Colorado Springs, CO:
Dial extension 126 for Mohs Surgery
Our dermatology clinic locations
We offer medical dermatology at four CSDERM locations:
Central Colorado Springs
170 Parkside Dr
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Phone: (719) 471-1763
North Colorado Springs
2060 Briargate Pkwy, Ste 150
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone: (719) 471-1763
Pueblo
406 North Main St
Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone: (719) 566-0176
Cañon City
1332 Bauer Ln
Cañon City, CO 81212
Phone: (719) 275-7485