Skin Cancer 101

Skin Cancer!  Dr Steve Antrobus, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery tells you  what you need to know about  skin cancer.

How common is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and is both preventable and treatable.

Here’s what we know and what you need to know about skin cancer:

1. First of all, you need to know just how common it is.  One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes and each year there are more new cases of skin cancer then the incidence of breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer, combined!  All of us will be affected in some way by skin cancer, whether it’s ourselves being diagnosed, or a family member, or a friend or co-worker.
2. The second thing that you need to know is that the daily application of sun screen has been shown to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.  So use it daily, and have your family use it daily.

What if I think I have a skin cancer?

You need to know that early detection and treatment of skin cancer leads to excellent cure rates, but procrastination and denial can lead to some very serious problems.  So be smart and be safe.  Get any questionable mole or skin lesion checked by your doctor.