Screening and Treating Skin Cancer In Boise, ID
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and everyone who spends time out in the sun is at risk. Our dermatologist can perform skin cancer screenings, biopsy any suspicious lesions, and recommend the best treatment approach for your specific skin cancer type and location.
Different Types of Skin Cancer
There are several different types of skin cancer. The three most common types of skin cancer are:
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
You are at greater risk of developing skin cancer if you:
- Have fair skin and freckles
- Have light hair color and eye color
- Sunburn easily
- Spend a lot of time out in the sun
- Have a personal or family history of skin cancer
Skin Cancer Prevention
The easiest and most important step you can take to prevent skin cancer is to apply sunscreen every day. Your daily sunscreen should be SPF 30 or higher. In addition to applying sunscreen, you should also:
- Try to avoid being out in the sun during the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, when damaging ultraviolet rays are the highest
- Wear sun blocking clothing and accessories, including a hat and sunglasses and SPF/UPF clothing
- Examine your skin regularly for new, growing, changing or bleeding lesions
Signs of Skin Cancer and What to Look For
Signs of skin cancer can be subtle, so when you perform a self-check of your skin, you need to look for any spots that are new, growing, changing, or have:
- An asymmetric shape
- Ragged, poorly defined borders
- Multiple colors, with black being the most concerning
- Itching, oozing, or bleeding
Visiting Our Dermatologist
Our dermatologist will perform a comprehensive skin examination, checking for any skin abnormalities, including abnormal moles. If a suspicious area is found, they may take a tissue sample for biopsy. Early diagnosis and treatment mean a better outcome for you.
Treatments for Skin Cancer
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, our dermatologist offers several treatment options, including:
- Surgical excision, to cut out the lesion completely
- Mohs micrographic surgery, to remove cancerous tissue layer-by-layer, examining each layer under a microscope
- Curettage and desiccation, using tools to scrape the cancerous tissue and apply electric current to kill cancerous cells
- Topical chemotherapy, using a chemotherapy cream to kill cancerous cells through repeated applications
- Radiation therapy, uses radiation to kill cancerous cells
- Systemic chemotherapy, which is reserved for more severe types of cancer that have spread through the body
Want to Learn More?
To discover more about the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, call our office at (208) 600-1330.