What's Vital When It Comes To Identifying Skin Cancer

First, your dermatologist will examine your skin with a magnifying glass to identify anything suspicious. If a biopsy is needed, the doctor will remove a small sample to diagnose a lesion or mole. The biopsy is performed quickly under local anesthesia.

Results usually come back in less than a week; if they’re positive, the doctor will outline your treatment options.

“Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective technique for treatment of BCCs with a cure rate of 99%,” says Dr. Skelsey. Mohs is usually recommended for large or rapidly growing spots, as well as for cosmetic regions on the face, ears or fingers. A surgeon removes a small slice of skin with a scalpel, which undergoes lab analysis. If it’s free of cancer cells, the procedure ends. Otherwise, the surgeon removes additional layers of skin until the analysis is clear of cancer cells. The surgeon then does a final wound repair.

Other forms of treatment are excisional surgery, curettage and electrodesiccation, radiation therapy and topical therapy. “It’s important to talk to your dermatologist to determine what course of action is right for you,” says Dr. Skelsey.

I had Mohs surgery for the nodule on my nostril, which was on a noticeable location. After the biopsy, a surgeon took a skin graft from my ear to make my Mohs surgery invisible. Now, no one can see it, not even me.

My next two BCCs, both identified through self-examination, were recognized very early and were more superficial than my first one. After the biopsy, my dermatologist conducted curettage and electrodesiccation (also known as electrosurgery). The Skin Cancer Foundation describes it as “scraping or shaving off the BCC using a sharp instrument with a ring-shaped tip, then using heat or a chemical agent to destroy remaining cancer cells.” This procedure has a 95% cure rate. If BCCs return, Mohs surgery is often advised.

The electrosurgery procedures were successful, requiring one office visit and a week of daily home care, applying Vaseline and a bandage to promote healing and prevent infection. My Mohs surgery left no visible scars, but it was a longer procedure with more follow-up visits.

Regular Self-Checks Are Vital

“When detected early, most BCCs are treatable,” says Dr. Skelsey. Melanoma, however, is less common than BCC and more dangerous as it can metastasize (spread).

My BCC was my third in two years. I noticed all of them before I saw my dermatologist. Like breast self-exams, it’s essential for everyone to check their skin on a regular basis at home, with the assistance of a partner who can examine your back.

Although monthly self-exams are advisable, I check more often. I’m not a doctor, but I know my skin and can notice something new or if something has changed and appears suspicious. My Mohs surgeon’s parting advice was to wear sunscreen every day. I leave a bottle near my front door so I never forget.

Have any of you ever had skin cancer? How did you identify it? Let us know in the comments below.