Skin Cancer

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, but early detection combined with a yearly exam can save lives! 

Why an Annual Skin Cancer Screening is Necessary

Because the sun damage that causes skin cancer is cumulative—it is not only sun worshippers but also people exposed to small amounts of sun damage casually, over years, everyone is at risk. And here in Florida, we get potentially dangerous sun exposure just getting to and from the car, day after day.

Spotting a cancerous lesion can be difficult and distinguishing a cancerous lesion from a noncancerous one is a job best left to our SkinSmart Dermatology providers. As the American Academy of Dermatology observes, even the same cancer can look different from person to person. That said, you should not wait until your annual exam to see a dermatologist if you see anything on your skin that lasts two weeks or longer and exhibits any of these characteristics of skin cancer:

• Growing
• Changing shape
• Bleeding
• Itching

If you had skin cancer before, you are at higher risk for a recurrence so our providers will most likely want to examine you more than just once a year.

Treatment for Skin Cancer

The good news is that skin cancer, when detected and treated early, can be cured. Even melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has a cure rate of almost 100% when it is caught early.

The first line of treatment for skin cancer is surgical removal of the cancerous or precancerous lesion. At SkinSmart, we proudly offer both traditional excision surgery and MOHS Micrographic Surgery, an advanced treatment procedure for skin cancer. MOHS offers the highest potential for recovery —up to 95 percent even if other forms of treatment have failed. This procedure, the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, minimizes the chance of regrowth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

Of course, surgical skill and experience are critical to a successful outcome and you can rest assured that you are in excellent hands. Dr. Callahan, a fellowship-trained MOHS skin cancer surgeon, supervises all surgical procedures. She has performed over 15,000 MOHS surgeries and is recognized as a “Top Doctor” by US News and World Report.

Read more about MOHS micrographic surgery by clicking here.