Skin Cancer

There are more cases of skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined*. Any new or changing mole or a spot that won’t heal can mean serious trouble.

 

There are 3 main types of skin cancer:

•  Basal Cell Carcinoma
•  Squamous Cell Carcinoma
•  Malignant Melanoma

By receiving skin cancer screenings regularly, you can maximize your chances of early detection and a high cure rate. For example, melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, has a 98% cure rate when detected at the earliest stage.

www.skincancer.org

There are more cases of skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined*. Any new or changing mole or a spot that won’t heal can mean serious trouble.

 

There are 3 main types of skin cancer:

•  Basal Cell Carcinoma
•  Squamous Cell Carcinoma
•  Malignant Melanoma

By receiving skin cancer screenings regularly, you can maximize your chances of early detection and a high cure rate. For example, melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, has a 98% cure rate when detected at the earliest stage.

www.skincancer.org

Tru-Skin Dermatology offers a full array of skin cancer treatments which are utilized to create an individualized plan of treatment for each of our patients. Our treatment modalities include surgical and non-surgical options which are as minimally invasive and pain-free as possible.

NON-SURGICAL Skin Cancer Treatments in Texas

One-third of adults in the United States will get skin cancer during their lifetime. That’s not a typo: one in three. That’s the bad news. The very good news is that skin cancer is up to 98% curable if it’s detected early, and modern treatment options often do not involve surgery. If you suspect you might have skin cancer, Tru-Skin Dermatology encourages you to call one of our six Austin, TX, area clinics to schedule a skin cancer screening immediately. Should further tests reveal that you do have skin cancer, we will go over all your options with you, both surgical and non-surgical.

The telltale signs

How do you know if you have skin cancer? The most common indicators are moles or blemishes that appear out of nowhere or existing moles that begin to change. Cuts or sores that refuse to   heal can also be indicators of skin cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that all adults get into the habit of checking their skin every three months for new or changing moles. If you find one, call Tru-Skin Dermatology in Austin, TX, right away. If we determine it to be suspicious, we will order a biopsy and lab tests to determine the presence or absence of skin cancer.

SRT 100 Vision Banner

Learn your a, b, c’s— and your d’s and e’s

Cancerous lesions of the skin tend to exhibit some common characteristics, which can be conveniently grouped into categories starting with the letters “A, B, C, D, E.”

  • A stands for asymmetry: Normal moles tend to be symmetrical in shape; moles indicative of skin cancer tends to be
  • B stands for border: Non-cancerous moles generally have even borders; cancerous ones are usually
  • C stands for color: Normal moles are monochromatic; cancerous moles tend to be multi-colored.
  • D stands for diameter: Non-cancerous growths usually don’t grow larger than ¼” in diameter; cancerous growths can get much
  • E stands for evolving: Benign moles don’t grow or change over time; cancerous ones

If you find a mole or lesion on your face or body that matches one or more of the above descriptors, contact Tru-Skin Dermatology at one of our six clinic locations in the Austin, TX, area without delay.

Your treatment options

Should a biopsy indicate you have skin cancer, it is essential that we act quickly. Early detection and treatment enable 95% of patients to get rid of their skin cancer and go on leading normal lives. At Tru-Skin Dermatology, we will treat your cancer one of two ways:

  • Surgically: Tru-Skin Dermatology is licensed and certified to perform Mohs surgery, the most effective surgical skin cancer treatment available Even though the protocol is surgical, the procedure will not require you to go under anesthesia or commit to a multi-day hospital stay. With Mohs surgery, the cure rates for most patients is between 95% to 99% and post-surgical scarring is minimal.
  • Non-surgically: If tests reveal your skin cancer is in the early stages and is not a melanoma-type cancer, you may be a good candidate for non-surgical skin cancer treatment. Tru-Skin Dermatology was one of the first medical dermatology practices in the U.S. to use SRT-100 This protocol uses superficial, low-energy radiation to target cancer cells at the source. Cure rate for SRT-100 Vision is over 95% and is   indicated for patients who are over 65, diabetic, or on blood thinners.

Additional advantages to non-surgical treatment with the SRT-100 Vision include:

  • No Cutting
  • No Pain
  • No Downtime
  • No Scarring
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SURGICAL Skin Cancer Treatments

In most cases, there are many surgical options for skin cancers depending on several factors: type of skin cancer, tumor location, medical history, surgical history and medications. Surgical options include freezing, curettage, chemical peels, routine excision and Mohs surgery. Tru-Skin(TM) Dermatology providers are trained to perform your skin cancer surgery comfortably and effectively in our offices.

For your comfort we provide local anesthesia and use proven techniques to reduce the pain of injection. There is no need for general anesthesia or hospitalization. After your skin cancer removal is completed, our providers assess your individual level of anxiety and pain tolerance, and may prescribe medications to make your recovery as comfortable as possible.

Mohs

Mohs surgery is the most advanced and effective skin cancer surgery available today. Cure rates are the highest of any surgical procedure: 99% for basal cell carcinoma and 95% for squamous cell carcinoma.

Additional benefits of Mohs surgery are:

  • Doesn’t require hospitalization or general anesthesia
  • Complete cancer removal is confirmed the same day
  • Removes the smallest possible amount of normal skin
  • Minimal discomfort due to local anesthesia
  • Excellent cosmetic results

Developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the Mohs procedure is a state-of-the-art technique that has been continuously refined over 70 years. With this technique, physicians are able to microscopically trace all the edges of the cancer down to the roots, seeing beyond the visible disease. Mohs surgery precisely identifies and removes the entire tumor layer by layer, while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. Mohs is the most exact and precise method of skin cancer removal and it minimizes the chance of re-growth, lessening the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

SKIN BIOPSY / MOLE REMOVAL

Why a biopsy would be needed:

After a skin cancer screening is performed, a suspicious spot may require a small sample of the affected area to be removed for further testing.

What to Expect:

The area will be numbed to prevent pain. A small piece of skin will be removed or shaved off. This skin will be prepared on a slide and sent to a board certified dermatopathologist, which is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing skin cancers and diseases. The site of the biopsy will be covered and you will be instructed on how to care for the area while it heals.

During the pathology phase, the tissue will be identified as cancerous or benign. You will be contacted by a Tru-Skin(TM) Dermatology staff member who will tell you the results of your biopsy. If further treatment or discussion is required, our staff will set your next appointment so that you may begin a plan of care.

Call Us Today at the Tru-Skin Dermatology Office Nearest to You

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