Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy
in man, and while it does not usually spread, it can be locally
invasive and disfiguring. Unfortunately, a vast majority of
these are located on the head and neck, although they can
be found virtually anywhere on the body. The major
subdivision of basal cell carcinomas is based upon their
histology, or how they look under the microscope. Some are
well circumscribed, while others grow subtly in strands,
making them difficult to eradicate without special surgery, such
as Mohs surgery.

One of the more feared skin cancers is melanoma. These
tumors are less common than the aforementioned two, but
are responsible for most of the deaths from skin cancers.
Melanoma also is a devastating disease because it often
diagnosed in significantly younger patients than those usually
thought of as having cancer.

Importantly though, if detected early, melanoma as well as
many other skin cancers are curable surgically. This fact
emphasizes the importance of routine self examination, as well
as the need for a skilled set of healthcare eyes to evaluate your
skin.

As always, no matter what your diagnosis, we are available for consultation.