A biopsy refers to the excision of a small amount of skin tissue. It is a vital evaluation tool for doctors to detect various types of skin cancer. Following a biopsy, the patient’s medical care team undertakes several steps before the pathologist arrives at a diagnosis.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven, salient, and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, Sarasota, Central Florida, Florida, and other neighborhoods and cities in this part of the southeast.

Looking at the Tissue Sample

The tissue sample taken during a biopsy is known as a specimen. The medical professional performing the biopsy places the specimen in a container which has a fluid to preserve it. This container is labeled with the patient’s name as well as other details.

A pathologist then provides a description of how it appears to the naked eye, including the size, color, and other characteristics. This is known as a gross or macroscopic exam.

The sample may be required for other tests on the basis of the suspected diagnosis. Molecular tests may detect genes that may be active, altered, or missing. Further gene or protein tests may be required to select effective treatment options. The technician or pathologist will ready a portion of the specimen for these tests.

Preparing a Slide

Prior to tissue examination under a microscope, the technician or pathologist makes a slide. To create this slide, the specimen is dissected into thin slices, known as histologic sections. These sections are stained with various dyes. These dyes highlight the parts of the cells.

The technician or pathologist will place the sections on a glass slide. Subsequently, they will place a thin cover (coverslip) on top to make sure the specimen stays in place. After that, the pathologists will view the sections under a microscope.

Surgery

In the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, basal cell carcinoma, or actinic keratosis, one or more of the below mentioned surgical dermatology procedure may be used:

Simple Excision

The tumor, as well as some normal tissue surrounding it, is excised from the skin.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

In this procedure, the tumor is excised from the skin in thin layers. In this procedure, the tumor edges and each tumor layer that is removed is viewed under a microscope to check for the presence of cancer cells. Thin skin layers are repetitively excised until the cancer cells are no longer seen.

This surgical procedure eliminates as little healthy tissue as possible. It is typically used to treat skin cancer on the fingers, face, or genitals as well as skin cancer with an undefined border.

Shave Excision

The abnormal skin site is shaved off the skin’s surface with a small blade.

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

The tumor is removed from the skin with a curette which is a sharp, spoon-like instrument. Subsequently, a needle-shaped electrode is used to treat the site with an electric current that stops the bleeding and destructs the cancer cells remaining around the edges of the wound.

This process may be repeated one to three times during the procedure to eliminate all of the cancer. This type of treatment is also known as electrosurgery.

Cyrosurgery

In this treatment, an instrument is used to freeze and destruct abnormal tissue such as carcinoma in situ. This treatment is also known as cryotherapy.

The committed Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other towns and cities in this outstanding area of America.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, every person should perform a head-to-toe self-exam on their skin every month.

This can help detect any new or changing lesions that may be cancerous or precancerous. Skin cancers that are detected and eliminated earlier are curable in most cases.

It may be beneficial for the patient to have a doctor perform a full-body examination initially. This will ensure that any existing freckles, spots, or moles are normal or the ones that are not can be treated.

The self-examination should not take over ten minutes after the first few times. This potentially life-saving examination requires no more than a few moments of time on the patient’s part.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by judicious board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides noteworthy, concrete, and salient skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and surrounding locations.

Why Self-Exams are Important

Among all types of cancers, skin cancers are the most common with more than 5.4 million non-melanoma skin cancer cases with over 3.3 million people in the US annually. It is also one of the easiest cancers to cure provided it is detected and treated early. However, when skin cancer is allowed to progress, it can cause disfigurement and in some cases, even death.  

In addition, to annual skin examinations by a specialist in dermatology, self-exams are the most effective way to make sure that you do not become a statistic in the fight against cancer.

When to Perform a Self-Exam

If performed on a regular basis, self-exams can alert a person to changes in their skin as well as help in the timely detection of skin cancer. Self-exams should be performed frequently enough for it to become a habit, but not so often that undertaking it feels cumbersome.

Performing a self-exam once monthly is ideal. However, the patient should consult their doctor to understand if they need more frequent skin evaluations.

What Signs should you Look For?

The three main forms of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each type of cancer appears different. Therefore, it is crucial to know the early warning signs. The patient should specifically look for any kind of changes in the skin and not ignore a suspicious spot merely because it is not painful.

Skin cancer may not cause pain. However, this does not mean that it is a benign condition.

The patient should consult a doctor, preferably a skin disease specialist, immediately upon noticing one or more of the following warning signs:

• A skin growth that has a pearly, brown, tan, black, or multicolored appearance and increases in size.
• A birthmark, beauty mark, mole, or any brown spot that:

• • Displays color changes
  • Increases in thickness or size
  • Changes texture
  • Has an uneven outline
  • Is larger than 6mm or 1/4″, a pencil eraser’s size
  • Appears after the age of 21 years

• A spot or sore that itches, hurts, crusts, scabs, erodes, or bleeds continuously
• An open sore that fails to heal within a duration of three weeks

What to do if you detect a something Suspicious?

It is critical not to overlook a suspicious skin spot or change and consult a dermatologist promptly. Individuals should visit their dermatologist annually for a skin cancer exam and other skin assessments.

The successful Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other towns and communities in this area of the marvelous state of Florida.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

Timely detection of skin cancer can help achieve 100 percent success in its treatment. Advanced surgical dermatology and other treatments are now available to treat skin cancers.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by the accomplished board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and surrounding locations in this region of The Sunshine State.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose skin cancer, the doctor may undertake the following:

• Evaluate the Patient’s Skin: The doctor may view the patient’s skin to establish whether the skin changes could possibly be related to skin cancer. The patient may need further testing to confirm the diagnosis.
• Remove a sample of dubious looking skin for testing (also known as skin biopsy): The doctor may remove a sample of suspicious looking skin for lab tests. A biopsy can help establish if a patient has skin cancer, and if so, then what type of cancer it is.

Understanding the Extent of the Skin Cancer

In case the doctor establishes that the patient has skin cancer, they may need further tests to establish the stage (extent) of the skin cancer. Superficial skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma do not usually spread. Therefore, a biopsy, which eliminates the entire growth, is typically the only test required to determine the stage of cancer.  

However, if the patient has a large squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma or melanoma, the physician may recommend additional testing to understand the stage of cancer.

Treatment

The treatment options for skin cancer and precancerous skin lesions (actinic keratoses) will differ according to the type, size, depth, and location of the lesions. In the case of small skin cancers restricted to the skin’s surface, an initial biopsy that removes the entire growth is often the only treatment a patient needs.

Options for additional treatment include:

• Freezing: The doctor may freeze actinic keratoses and certain small, initial stage skin cancers with liquid nitrogen in a process known as cryosurgery. The dead tissue will rub off when it thaws.
• Excisional surgery: This is a suitable treatment for any form of skin cancer. The doctor excises the malignant tissue as well as a surrounding margin of normal skin. In some cases, a wide excision which removes extra healthy skin around the tumor may be recommended.
• Mohs surgery: This procedure is suitable for more significant, recurring, or hard-to-treat skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. This technique is appropriate for areas where the conservation of as much skin as possible is necessary, such as on the nose.
• Curettage and electrodesiccation or cryotherapy: The doctor will scrape away layers of cancer cells after removing most of the growth via a device with a circular blade (known as a curet). An electric needle eliminates any remaining malignant cells. A variation of this procedure includes the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the base and edges of the treated site.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy employs powerful energy beams such as x-rays, to eliminate cancer cells. This treatment approach can be used when surgery cannot completely remove cancer.  
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of medication to eliminate cancer cells. In case the cancer is limited to the uppermost skin layer, the doctor may prescribe lotions or creams comprising anti-cancer agents for direct application on the skin. Systemic chemotherapy can be used in the treatment of skin cancers that have spread to other areas of the body.
• Photodynamic therapy: This treatment uses a combination of drugs and laser light to destruct cancer cells by rendering them sensitive to light.
• Biological therapy: This treatment uses the immune system of the body to destroy cancer cells.

Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and nearby areas in this majestic part of the nation.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

If the doctor believes that a suspicious looking spot might be melanoma, the area will be excised and sent to a laboratory for assessment under a microscope. This is known as a skin biopsy.

There are various techniques to perform a skin biopsy. Factors such as the size of the affected region and its location on the body among others will determine the dermatology technique chosen by the doctor. A small scar may result from any biopsy. Different scars can result from different types of techniques.

Therefore, the patient should discuss the possibility of scarring before undergoing the biopsy. Regardless of the type of biopsy done, the goal should be to excise as much of the suspicious looking area as possible to enable the pathologist to arrive at the right conclusion.

A local anesthetic (numbing medication) is used while doing a skin biopsy. This drug will be injected into the area using a fine gauge needle. The patient will likely feel a tiny prick as well as a stinging sensation as the medication enters the bloodstream. However, the biopsy should be painless after receiving the anesthetic.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides suitable, judicious, and poignant skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and surrounding locations.

Shave (Tangential) Biopsy

In this biopsy, the doctor will shave off the uppermost skin layers with a small surgical blade. The doctor will apply an ointment to the biopsy site which is a chemical to stop the bleeding, or a small electric current to cauterize the wound.

A shave biopsy is used to diagnose various types of skin conditions and in sampling moles with low melanoma risks. In general, this type of biopsy is not be used if the probability of melanoma is high unless the biopsy blade will penetrate deep enough to get beneath the suspicious area.

In other cases of melanoma, the biopsy sample may not have sufficient thickness to measure the depth of the cancer spread in the skin.

Punch Biopsy

A punch biopsy involves the doctor using an instrument that appears as a small round cookie cutter to excise a deeper skin sample. The doctor will rotate the punch biopsy tool on the skin until it penetrates all of the skin layers. The sample is taken out, and the edges of the biopsy wound are usually sutured together.

Incisional and Excisional Biopsies

A doctor will need to perform an incisional or excisional biopsy to evaluate a tumor that might have grown into the deeper skin layers. In such biopsies, a surgical knife is used to penetrate the entire thickness of the skin. This procedure removes a wedge or slice of skin for assessment, and the wound edges are typically sutured together.

An incisional biopsy eliminates only a part of the tumor. An excisional biopsy removes the complete tumor. Therefore, it is usually the preferred technique of biopsy for suspected melanomas if it can be undertaken. However, excisional biopsies are not always possible, and other types of biopsies may be required.  

Laboratory Tests of Biopsy Samples

The biopsy samples are sent to a lab. A doctor known as a pathologist will view these samples under a microscope to detect the presence of any melanoma cells. Mostly, skin samples are sent to a dermatopathologist who is a doctor with specialized training in assessing skin samples.

The focused Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other communities and cities in this part of the state.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

Melanoma is a rare type of skin cancer. This type of cancer is more likely to affect the surrounding tissues and spread to other body areas in comparison to other types of skin cancer.

Factors such as sunlight exposure, unusual moles, and medical history can impact the risk of melanoma.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by the dedicated board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other towns and suburbs in this section of the state.

Tests that assess the skin are used to detect and diagnose melanoma

In case a mole or pigmented region of the skin changes or appears abnormal, the following dermatology procedures and tests can assist in finding and diagnosing the melanoma:

• Skin exam: A doctor or nurse examines the skin for birthmarks, moles or other pigmented regions that appear abnormal in shape, size, texture, or color.
• Biopsy: This is a procedure to excise abnormal tissue as well as a small amount of normal tissue surrounding it. A pathologist will examine the tissue using a microscope to check for the presence of cancer cells. It can be challenging to differentiate between a colored mole and an early stage melanoma lesion. Patients may also consider having the sample evaluated by a second pathologist. In case the abnormal mole or lesion is malignant, the sample of tissue may also undergo testing to check for specific gene changes.

It is vital that the abnormal skin areas are not cauterized (destructed with an electric current, hot instrument, or a caustic substance) or shaved off as the cancer cells that remain may proliferate.  

Treatment Options

The treatment of melanoma involves various options, such as:

The five standard options for the treatment of melanoma are:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
  • New treatment types being assessed in clinical trials.
• Vaccine therapy
  • Melanoma treatment may lead to side effects.
  • Patients may consider participating in a clinical trial.
  • Patients can participate in clinical trials before, during, or following their cancer treatment.
  • The patient may require follow-up tests.

Different Treatment Options for Melanoma Patients

Various types of treatment options are available for melanoma patients. Some treatments are presently in use (standard) while others are being tested in clinical trials.

Surgery

Surgery to excise the tumor is the primary treatment of all melanoma stages. The surgeon uses a wide local excision to remove the melanoma and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. The surgeon may use a skin graft (skin taken from another body part to replace the excised skin) may be done to cover the wound created by the surgery.

Chemotherapy

When the melanoma removal is complete, the patient may undergo chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Treating the patient with chemotherapy after the surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring is known as adjuvant therapy. Removing cancer that has spread to the lung, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or brain can improve the quality of the patient’s life.

The focused Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other suburbs and towns in this part of the US.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

In the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and basal cell carcinoma, simple excision, curettage and electrodesiccation, Mohs micrographic surgery, and cryosurgery are used. The use of laser surgery is rare in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

Actinic keratosis treatment involves the use of simple excision, curettage and desiccation, shave excision, laser surgery, and dermabrasion.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and surrounding communities.

Other Skin Cancer Treatments

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a treatment for cancer that makes use of high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from growing.

Radiation therapy has two forms:

• External Radiation Therapy: In this type of radiation therapy, a machine outside the body sends radiation towards cancer.
• Internal Radiation Therapy: This radiation therapy involves the placement of a radioactive material sealed in seeds, needles, catheters, or wires directly into or in the vicinity of the cancer.

The choice of the radiation therapy technique depends on the type of cancer that is under treatment. The treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and basal cell carcinoma involves the use of external radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy

The use of chemotherapy in skin cancer treatment involves the use of medications to prevent cancer cell growth. These drugs either kill the cancer cells or stop them from dividing.

The medication enters the bloodstream and reaches cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy) when chemotherapy is administered via injection into a vein or muscle, or by mouth.

Upon placing chemotherapy directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, a body cavity such as the abdomen, or an organ, the medication primarily impacts the cancer cells in those sites (regional chemotherapy).

Chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis is typically applied to the skin as a cream or lotion (topical). The administering of the chemotherapy depends on the disease under treatment. Basal cell carcinoma is treated using topical fluorouracil (5-FU).

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used to treat cancer through a drug and a specific laser light to destroy cancer cells. This drug is injected into a vein or applied on the skin. This drug remains inactive until it is exposed to light as well as accumulates more in cancer cells relative to healthy cells.

In the case of skin cancer, the laser light is focused on the skin, and the drug activates and destructs the cancer cells. This dermatology treatment causes minimal damage to normal tissue.  

Immunotherapy

In immunotherapy, the patient’s immune system is engaged to battle cancer. Bodily substances or those produced in a lab are used to enhance, direct, or restore the natural defenses of the body against cancer. This form of cancer treatment is also known as biologic therapy or biotherapy.

Interferon and Imiquimod are drugs used to treat skin cancer in immunotherapy. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is treated by injecting Interferon. Topical imiquimod therapy which involves the application of a cream to the skin can be used in the treatment of certain basal cell carcinomas.

Chemical Peel

A chemical peel treatment is used to improve the appearance of specific skin conditions. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin to dissolve the uppermost layer of skin cells. This treatment may be used to address actinic keratosis. This treatment type is also known as chemexfoliation or chemabrasion.

Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and nearby areas.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

A biopsy refers to the removal of a small amount of tissue. It is a significant diagnosis tool for doctors in the detection of various types of skin cancer.

Following a biopsy, the medical dermatology team completes various steps before the pathologist arrives at a diagnosis. A pathologist is a doctor who is a specialist in the interpretation of lab tests and assessing tissues, cells, and organs to detect disease.

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by the astute board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and surrounding locations in the illustrious Sunshine State.

Looking at the Slides under a Microscope

The pathologist looks at the slides with the sections of the specimen using a microscope. After that, the pathologist develops a pathology report on the basis of what they view under the microscope.

This report is quite technical and contains terms that are meaningful to other pathologists and medical professionals. In general, the pathologist provides a description of:

• Types of cells
• The arrangement of the cells
• Whether the cells appear abnormal
• Other attributes vital for a diagnosis

At times, the pathologist may want to view more tissue prior to making a diagnosis. They will note this in the report.

Possible Need for Follow-Up Tests

There may be a requirement to repeat certain tests that were performed to diagnose cancer or detect its stage. Some tests will be done again to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. These tests will also form the basis for decisions on whether to continue, alter, or stop treatment.

Certain tests will be performed repetitively in intervals until the treatment is complete. The outcomes of these tests can highlight whether the patient’s condition has changed or if cancer has come back (recurred). At times, these tests are known as follow-up tests or check-ups.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a higher likelihood of recurrence, typically within five years or new tumors may develop. Consult your doctor on how frequently you should have your skin examined for cancer signs.

Treatment Options for Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cells Carcinoma

The treatment of localized basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma treatment may include:

• Simple excision
• Radiation
• Mohs microscopic surgery
• Curettage and electrodesiccation
• Cyrosurgery
• Photodynamic therapy
• Topical chemotherapy
• Topical immunotherapy (imiquimod)
• Laser surgery (used rarely)

The treatment of metastatic or resistant to local therapy squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma may include:

• Focused therapy with a signal transduction inhibitor (vismodegib or sonidegib)
• A clinical trial of a new treatment

The treatment of recurring non-metastatic basal cell carcinoma may include:

• Mohs micrographic surgery
• Simple excision

Treatment Options for Actinic Keratosis

While actinic keratosis is not cancer, it needs treatment as it may develop into cancer. The treatment options for this condition include:

• Topical immunotherapy (imiquimod)
• Chemical peel
• Topical chemotherapy
• Dermabrasion
• Curettage and electrodesiccation
• Shave excision
• Simple excision
• Photodynamic therapy
• Laser surgery
• Other drug therapy (diclofenac or ingenol)

The accomplished Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and nearby areas.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.

Patients or family members initially notice over 75 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers/keratinocyte carcinomas. Therefore, it is important to bring any suspicious spot to a doctor’s attention. Doctors perform various tests to detect and diagnose skin cancer.

In addition, doctors also conduct tests to understand whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This is known as metastasis. A dermatology specialist may perform tests to determine which treatments could be most effective for a particular condition.

A biopsy is the most certain approach for a doctor to understand whether a body area has cancer for many types of cancer. The doctor may consider the following aspects when selecting a diagnostic test:

• Cancer type suspected
• Signs and symptoms of the patient
• The patient’s age and health condition
• The outcomes of previous medical tests

Suncoast Skin Solutions, led by successful board certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Ewanowski, provides proven and effective skin care treatments to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and other towns and cities in this region of the nation.

Biopsy

Non-melanoma skin cancer only spreads in rare cases. Therefore, a biopsy is usually the only test required to detect and find out the extent (stage) of cancer. A biopsy refers to the removal of a tiny amount of tissue for examination using a microscope.

During a biopsy, the suspicious skin spot is excised. A local anesthetic is typically used to numb the area before the removal. The doctor will also excise a healthy area of tissue surrounding the lesion, known as the margin.

The sample excised during the biopsy is evaluated by a pathologist to establish whether it is skin cancer. A pathologist is a doctor specializing in the interpretation of lab test and assessment of cells, organs, and tissues to diagnose disease.

The doctor will evaluate the biopsy results with the patient. In case the biopsy successfully removes entire cancer, no further treatment will be needed. But if cancer cells are present in the margins of the excised tissue, the patient will typically require further treatment.

• The treatment depends on whether the patient has squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, basal cell carcinoma, or actinic keratosis.
• The eight standard treatment types are as follows:

• Surgery
• Chemical peel
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Other drug therapy

• Clinical trials are on-going for new types of treatments.
• Skin cancer treatment may lead to side-effects.
• Patients can consider participating in a clinical trial.
• Patients can participate in clinical trials prior to, during, or following their cancer treatment.
• Patients may require follow-up tests.  

Treatments for patients with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and actinic keratosis

Various types of treatment options are available for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis. Some of these treatments are standard (which means that they are being used presently), while others are still being evaluated in clinical trials.

The clinical trial of a treatment refers to a research study which seeks to improve current treatments or gather information on new treatments for patients with cancer. Clinical trials may indicate that a new treatment is more effective than a standard treatment. In this case, the new treatment takes the place of the standard treatment.

Patients may consider participating in a clinical trial. Only patients who have not begun treatment are eligible for certain clinical trials.

The cordial Dr. Ewanowski’s skin care clinic is equipped to provide advanced medical and aesthetic skin care solutions to patients in Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Seminole, Riverview, Brookesville, Winter Haven, Daytona Beach, Largo, St. Petersburg, Ocala, The Villages Central Florida, Florida, and nearby areas across the landscape.

SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete/ Pinellas County , Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Riverview, Brooksville, Ocala, and Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.