SKIN CANCER | dermcareala

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to skin cancer, at Dermatology Care of Alabama, we want to make sure you know all the facts.

Skin Cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide.
More than 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the US every hour.
Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
When detected early, the 5 year survival rate for melanoma is 99 Percent.

SKIN CANCER TREATMENTS

In-office Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma using IG-SRT

At Dermatology Care of Alabama we are committed to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers as well as the detection and diagnosis of melanomas.

Dermatology Care of Alabama has on-site in office treatment for Basal Cell and Squamous Cells through Superficial Radiation Treatment (SRT). Introduced to our patients in our clinic in 2020, SRT treatment provides a non-surgical alternative for treatment of skin cancers. Patients are able to receive radiation treatments in our office, under the direction of our Radiation Therapist and our physicians.

With SRT there is no surgery, no scarring and no downtime. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes, spread out over the course of six weeks. A typical treatment cycle requires 22-24 treatments. Most major insurance policies cover the cost of SRT. If your doctor has recommended SRT as the course of treatment for your cancer, we will consult your insurance carrier to determine if the treatment is covered by your policy.

AT YOUR APPOINTMENT

At your appointment, your doctor will assess your risk factors for skin cancer, taking into consideration your family history, skin type, photosensitivity, any atypical moles, tanning and sunburn history and UV exposure. A full body exam will allow your doctor to detect any possible skin cancers, even those you may not notice or can see yourself. If there are any skin lesions that appear to be concerning, your doctor will perform a biopsy on the area where pathology reports will accurately confirm the doctor’s suspicions of skin cancers.

Pathology reports will confirm if the lesion is a basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma.

Other skin cancers may be actinic keratosis, signs of skin damage that place you at a higher risk for skin cancer. If AK’s are detected, you’ll be encouraged to follow up with regular skin exams.

If you have a Melanoma, Basal or Squamous cell skin cancer your doctor will review your biopsy results at a follow up appointment where he will discuss treatment options for you. If you have a Melanoma, depending on the severity, you may be referred outside of our clinic to a surgeon who will remove the cancer through Moh’s surgery. Your doctor may also recommend further testing.