Skin Cancer

Islamorada Medical Center

Family Medicine located in Tavernier, FL & Marathon, FL

Unusual skin lesions might not be cancer, but it’s important to have your doctor evaluate them just in case. At Islamorada Medical Center in Tavernier and Marathon, Florida, the experienced family medicine specialists offer skin cancer screenings and treatments to restore the health of your skin or eliminate cancerous tissue. Call Islamorada Medical Center to schedule skin cancer screening, or use the online booking feature today.

Skin Cancer Q & A

What are the different types of skin cancer?

Cancer results from uncontrolled cell growth. Skin cancer affects different cell types within the skin and often results because of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning beds.

There are several types of skin cancer, and some are more common than others. The Islamorada Medical Center providers offer skin evaluations to detect or rule out:

Melanoma
Merkel cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

It’s important to report new or changing marks on your skin to your provider so they can evaluate the affected skin for cancer. When left untreated, some forms of skin cancer can spread to other areas of your body and cause life-threatening problems. Early detection and treatment are vital.

How often should I get screened for skin cancer?

The Islamorada Medical Center specialists encourage you to schedule routine skin assessments, often yearly if you have fair skin or a genetic predisposition for skin cancer. Make sure to mention a known family history of skin cancer to your doctor.

Your Islamorada Medical Center provider teaches you to check your own skin regularly for signs of cancer. Be on the lookout for new sores, growths, or changing moles. The signs of melanoma skin cancer include moles with:

Uneven colors
Asymmetry
Irregular borders
Large diameters
Changing appearances

Even if skin lesions aren’t cancerous, skin cancer screening is important to rule out skin cancer or treat it before it becomes severe. Your provider might obtain a skin biopsy to test unusual-looking tissues in a lab.

What does skin cancer treatment entail?

Treating skin cancer ranges from simple tissue removal to more invasive options. Based on the type of skin cancer you have and its severity, your Islamorada Medical Center specialist might recommend:

Surgery

Surgery can happen in one of a few ways. Your doctor may excise a mole, along with healthy tissues surrounding it, using a scalpel. They might freeze a lesion off with liquid nitrogen or use Mohs surgery, a newer technique that preserves as much healthy skin as possible around and underneath skin cancer.

Systemic treatments

Systemic treatments for skin cancer kill cancer cells, including those that have spread. These treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy.

To get screened or treated for skin cancer, schedule an appointment at Islamorada Medical Center by phone or book one online today.

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