Skin Cancer Screening

Dr. Brodsky encourages a yearly skin cancer screening for all of her patients.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in this country. About one million Americans develop skin cancer each year. There are many types of skin cancer. The two most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These are sometimes called nonmelanoma skin cancer. These cancers usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. These areas are exposed to the sun, but skin cancer can occur anywhere.

• Basal cell skin carcinoma Basal cell skin cancer grows slowly. It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun. It is most common on the face. Basal cell cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
  
  
• Squamous cell skin carcinoma also occurs on parts of the skin that have been in the sun, but it also may be in places that are not in the sun. Squamous cell cancer sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and organs inside the body.
  
  
• Melanoma is a much less common type of skin cancer. This usually occurs on sun exposed areas. Moles are checked for the ABCDE rule:
  • Asymmetry
    
    
    
  • Borders
    
    
    
  • Color
    
    
    
  • Diameter
    
    
    
  • Evolution
    
    
    

Treatment for skin cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease, the size and place of the growth, and your general health and medical history. In most cases, the aim of treatment is to remove or destroy the cancer completely.

Visit Dr. Brodsky for a complete skin exam.