Being told you have skin cancer is alarming to say the least, but if you’ve been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), exactly how worried should you be? Of the three most common types of skin cancer, SCC is considered less serious than melanoma, but more serious than basal cell carcinoma, which very rarely spreads,” explains Dr. Adam Mamelak, a Continue reading
For many patients with skin cancer, radiation therapy can be a safe, effective cancer treatment. Radiation therapy is often used to treat basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma, the second-most common form of skin cancer; and in some instances, melanoma, one of the most serious forms of skin cancer. While radiation therapy may Continue reading
What is Basal Cell Carcinoma? Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently occurring type of skin cancer. Fortunately, this type of skin cancer almost never spreads beyond the original site. It has spread and become life-threatening only in rare cases. Still, Basal Cell Carcinoma isn’t something to be taken lightly. “These tumors are locally destructive,” says Dr. Adam Mamelak, Continue reading
Decades ago, women were encouraged to lay out in the sun with their skin slathered in baby oil. Many claim this fashion movement was first started by Coco Chanel, the trendsetter who helped make tanned skin so desirable. “Bronzed skin became a status symbol. It was a sign of ultimate leisure, and those who could afford to travel to tropical vacation Continue reading
A diagnosis of melanoma can lead to many questions. It’s important to fully understand your disease, what the treatment options are, and how they will impact you. You may hear the term signal transduction inhibitors come up, which brings up the question: what are signal transduction inhibitors, and how are they used to treat melanoma? The answer is two-fold: What are signal Continue reading
Are you curious about the newest melanoma treatment using checkpoint inhibitors you’ve heard about? What are checkpoint inhibitors and how are these used to treat melanoma? Let’s take a look at how this latest therapy works. The Players T-cells checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab nivolumab pembrolizumab The Game “T-cells (T lymphocytes) are cancer-fighting cells,” says Dr. Adam Mamelak, dermatologist and skin cancer Continue reading
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This is the perfect time to learn more about the most common, and one of the most preventable, forms of cancer in the United States. Sanova Dermatology would like to take this opportunity to recommend the following prevention guidelines: Stay in the Shade The most dangerous time to have direct sun exposure is between Continue reading
If you have a spot on your skin that is new and looks unusual, you should have it evaluated by consulting a dermatologist. And even if you don’t think you have any worrisome spots on your body, it can be difficult to be sure. “We often recommend individuals at risk for skin cancer get a skin screening by a qualified health care professional,” Continue reading
Skin cancer rates are increasing and yet life continues on for the majority of Americans not yet affected. According to the Center for Disease Control, from 2002 to 2011, rates of melanoma in white and Hispanic men and women have increased significantly per year. One person will die from melanoma every hour and in the past 3 decades, there have been more Continue reading
About one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer during some point in their lives as this is the most common type of cancer. In over 90 percent of cases, the culprit is the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Fortunately, the majority of skin cancers can be prevented. If you’re worried about developing skin cancer, here are some Continue reading
