FAQs about Skin Cancer

If you are worried that you may have some type of skin cancer, Florida Dermatology Associates can help. Skin cancers comes in various different types, and our dermatologists, Dr. Ruben Moreno and Dr. Frank Lee, are experts in diagnosing and treating them. In most cases, the key to curing skin cancer is early detection and treatment. Here in our Cocoa Beach, Palm Bay, Port St. John, Suntree, and Titusville, FL, offices, we use the most advanced diagnostic tools for identifying all kinds of skin cancers. With that said, here are FAQs on skin cancer that you should know.

Which Skin Cancers are The Most Common?

The most common skin cancer types include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The latter two are classified as non-melanoma cancers.

What Skin Cancer Symptoms Should I Watch Out For?

Consult one of our dermatologists in our Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Port St. John, Titusville, or Suntree FL, locations if you notice any of these skin cancer symptoms:

Melanoma: A mole that grows bigger with changes in shape or color, a painful or bleeding mole, a new mole that seems to grow very rapidly, and/or black or dark discoloration on the fingernail.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Red and crusted nodules on skin that’s usually exposed to the sun, but can likewise develop in the genitalia or mouth.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: A sore that doesn’t heal, a shiny pimple or nodule, red rough patches, and/or scar-like skin patches.

What are Skin Cancer Risk Factors?

Melanoma risk factors include:

Having many irregular moles
Having green or blue eyes and blonde or red hair
A previous skin cancer diagnosis
A family history of skin cancer

Non-Melanoma risk factors include:

Having fair skin
Arsenic exposure
Heavy sun exposure
Having a compromised immune system
Previous radiation therapy
Multiple blistering sunburns
Using tanning beds
A previous skin cancer diagnosis
Northern European ancestry
Certain HPV virus forms

How is Skin Cancer Treated?

The most treatable types of skin cancers are non-melanoma types. However, if melanoma is diagnosed and treated before it has had a chance to spread to your lymph nodes, there’s a chance that it can also be cured. The primary goal of skin cancer treatments is to remove all the cancerous cells. Usually, the gold standard treatments are surgical, but non-surgical procedures may likewise be recommended under specific circumstances.

Common surgeries used for treating skin cancer include standard excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, and electrodesiccation and curettage. Basically, the kind of surgical procedure used will significantly be dependent on the tumor’s type, location, and depth. Chemotherapy, radiation, and/or immunotherapy may also be recommended for advanced skin cancer cases or when the patient isn’t fit to undergo surgery.

For More In-Depth Information on Skin Cancer, Give Us a Call.

Contact Florida Dermatology Associates to arrange your appointment with Dr. Ruben Moreno or Dr. Frank Lee. You can reach our Cocoa Beach, Palm Bay, Suntree, and Titusville, FL, offices at (321) 768-1600 and reach our Port St. John office at (321) 264-6266.