May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and it is very important to have your dermatologists examine your skin for any unusual moles. Melanoma screening is vital, as it can diagnose cancer at the earliest stage.

·         Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually.

·         Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.

·         Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined

·         Of the seven most common cancers in the US, melanoma is the only one whose incidence is increasing. Between 2000 and 2009, incidence climbed 1.9 percent annually.

Hearing a diagnosis of “cancer” is very difficult to accept. Understanding that treating your skin cancer may result in scars or disfigurement can also be troubling. Your plastic surgeon understands your concerns and will guide you through treatment and explain the resulting effect on your health and appearance.

Quick facts about skin cancer treatment:

• Treatment of skin cancer, much like any form of cancer, may require surgery to remove cancerous growths
• Your plastic surgeon can surgically remove cancerous and other skin lesions using specialized techniques to preserve your health and your appearance
• Although no surgery is without scars, your plastic surgeon will make every effort to treat your skin cancer without dramatically changing your appearance
• For some people, reconstruction may require more than one procedure to achieve the best results

The first step in treating skin cancer is a consultation with your plastic surgeon. The success and safety of your skin cancer surgery depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle. 

Your plastic surgeon can treat your skin cancer by surgically removing cancerous skin and reconstructing a more normal appearance. But some forms of skin cancer require additional treatment such as radiation therapy. Your physician will advise you about any follow-up treatment recommendations.

Questions to ask you plastic surgeon

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Were you specially trained in the field of plastic surgery?
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally or state recognized accrediting agency, or is state licensed or Medicare-certified?
• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What shape, size, surface texturing, incision site and placement site are recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my skin cancer surgery?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

*American Academy of Plastic Surgeons, May 2013 

Learn About Skin Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment at www.cancer.org/skincancer or call Dr. William K. Boss, MD FACS at 201.967.1100