At Brentwood Dermatology, we recommend regular skin cancer screenings for all of our patients, especially if they have a family history of skin cancer or fair skin. Skin cancer screenings are beneficial for the early detection of skin cancer. This is vital because skin cancer has a very high survival rate if it is detected early.
Skin Cancer Screening
Types of Skin Cancer We Screen For
We will examine your skin for unusual marks or moles that do not look like the other moles on your skin during a skin cancer screening. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., with the most common forms being squamous and basal cell carcinomas. We look for the signs and symptoms of basal cell, squamous cell, and malignant melanomas during skin cancer screenings.
Signs & Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): This type of skin cancer often presents as open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny nodules, or growths with elevated edges and/or a central lesion.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): Squamous cell cancer often looks like a crusted or scaly area of skin with a red, inflamed base, resembling an ulcer that won’t heal or a crusted-over patch of skin.
Malignant melanoma: Melanoma can be found by examining your skin for moles and following the ABCDEs of melanoma so that you know when to see a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
- Asymmetry: Half of the mole or marking looks different than the other half.
- Border: the edges of the mole are jagged and uneven rather than smooth.
- Color: the mole is different shades of the same color, or there is red, white, or pink in an otherwise brown or black spot.
- Diameter: the mole is 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) or more. However, melanoma can also be smaller than 6 millimeters.
- Evolving: the mole changes in size, shape, color, or texture
Also, keep an eye out for these common signs and symptoms of skin cancer:
- A sore that will not heal or that goes away but comes back again.
- Redness or swelling in the skin around a mole or spot.
- Changes in sensation in or around a mole, including itching, tenderness, or pain.
- Changes in the surface of a mole or spot, such as scaling, oozing, or bleeding.
Skin Cancer Screening Photos
Skin Cancer Screening & Treatment FAQs
Many people are afraid to come in for skin cancer screenings because they fear a negative outcome. However, when it comes to skin cancer, early diagnosis makes all the difference. Here are some frequently asked questions about skin cancer and skin cancer screenings:
What is the treatment for skin cancer?
There are a variety of treatments for skin cancer. The most effective treatment is Mohs surgery, which involves removing and examining thin layers of cancerous tissue. The procedure is repeated several times until the cancerous tissue is no longer detected.
Does insurance cover skin cancer screening?
A skin cancer screening is considered a preventive care measure, so most insurance providers cover it.
What does skin cancer look like?
Skin cancer often looks like a strange mole or an ulcer that won’t heal. If you notice any skin changes, you need to visit the dermatologist to have your skin checked.
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
Skin cancer symptoms vary depending on skin cancer type, but they often include a growth or lump on the skin. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, groin, and underarms may also be a symptom of skin cancer.
What are the skin cancer treatment options?
Mohs Surgery has the highest cure rate of any other skin cancer treatment. Mohs surgery involves the repeated removal and examination of thin layers of cancerous tissue.
With Surgical Excision, a surgeon removes the cancerous tissue, and the area is closed with stitches or repaired with a skin graft or flap.
Curettage is a treatment often used for smaller lesions. With this treatment, a surgeon scrapes off a small cancerous growth with a surgical instrument with a sharp, ring-shaped tip. The surgeon then uses heat to destroy the residual tumor and control bleeding.
Cryosurgery is where a dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen with a swab or spray to freeze and destroy the tumor.
Radiation Therapy is a treatment for skin cancers that are not operable. Our team of dermatologists and staff work with radiation oncology when this type of treatment is deemed necessary. With radiation therapy, an oncologist will use radiation to target cancer cells so that minimal radiation affects surrounding healthy tissue.
If you have any other questions about skin cancer or skin cancer screenings, please feel free to reach out to our team or schedule an appointment.
Contact Brentwood Dermatology for Skin Cancer Screening
We recommend everyone have a skin cancer screening at least once per year or more frequently if you have pale skin or a family history of skin cancer. If you notice any strange changes in your skin, or if you are just overdue for an appointment, schedule a screening with the board-certified dermatologists at Brentwood Dermatology today.
Request your appointment online or give us a call at 615-377-3448 to schedule an appointment at a time that’s convenient for you.
