Statistically, skin cancer affects roughly 20 percent of Americans, with over 3 million new cases diagnosed each year. Regardless of the cancer type, the best prognosis comes with early detection and treatment. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the dark spots and lesions on your skin and monitor them for changes, but you should also consider having an annual skin cancer screening at the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Windermere.
Why are Skin Cancer Screenings Important?
Although years of prolonged, unprotected sun exposure can significantly increase your chances of developing skin cancer, it can potentially affect anyone. People of all skin types and colors are equally susceptible to developing the disease, but when it is detected and treated early, skin cancer is among the most curable types of cancers in the body.
Unlike other types of cancer, the symptoms of skin cancer are usually visible on the skin surface, providing a clear marker that something is wrong. However, by the time these become visible, the cancer may have already spread to other parts of the body. Scheduling regular skin cancer screenings on a yearly basis will not only catch the early warning signs of disease, but it can also identify which type of cancer may be present.
When skin cancer is identified in its early stages and treated immediately, there can be up to a 95 percent chance of full recovery. Even the most dangerous forms of skin cancer have high rates of recovery when they are found early.
What Happens During a Skin Cancer Screening?
A skin cancer screening is easy to fit into your schedule, taking only about a half hour on average. Your whole body is examined, but there is no pain, and no blood is drawn. At Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, our medical team is highly trained in skin cancer detection and will ensure that you are comfortable.
During the exam, a medical gown will be issued to you, and our team will study the full length of your body, including places you may not associate with developing cancer, such as between your toes, behind your ears, and near your buttock and groin areas.
To provide a thorough examination, we often ask patients to remove any nail polish and wear their hair loosely prior to being screened.
What Happens If Abnormal Results are Found?
If our medical team detects an abnormality on your skin, a biopsy or other diagnostic tests may be performed in order to completely confirm or deny the presence of skin cancer.
Although skin cancer screenings with a certified dermatologist are the best way to rule out skin cancer, it is also important to continue self-monitoring your own skin for bumps or lesions that are growing, changing or evolving.
Contact the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Windermere today to schedule a consultation or find out more about annual skin cancer screenings.