If you think that skin cancer isn't something you should worry about, consider this: There are nearly as many skin cancer diagnoses in the United States each year as there are automobile accidents. The numbers for each range between 5 million and 6 million.
The major difference between the two potentially serious events is that you can screen for one — skin cancer. And given that the disease affects 1 in 5 people by the age of 70, this screening is an important one, especially for people who live in sunny climates like the one we enjoy here in California.
As experts in skin health, Dr. Bruce Saal and our team at Los Gatos Dermatology understand the importance of staying one step ahead of skin cancer, and regular screenings play an essential role in this effort.
One of the reasons skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer around the world is that most of us share two of the biggest risk factors — exposure to the sun and aging. And when you combine the two, you understand why skin cancer risks rise with age — there's more exposure.
These cancers can show up in different forms, including:
By the numbers, around 8 out of 10 skin cancers are BCC and 2 out of 10 skin cancers are SCC. Melanoma cancers only account for 1% of diagnosis, but this type of skin cancer is more dangerous.
On your own, we want you to watch out for potential signs of skin cancer, especially if you’re outside in the sun a good deal.
To help you identify potential skin cancer, we turn to the ABCDE guidelines for moles and freckles:
So, if you notice anything unusual in one of your moles or freckles, it’s a good idea to have us check it out.
As you get older, you might notice that skin blemishes start to pile up. With each decade, you might see more areas of hyperpigmentation, dryer skin, and skin tags. And in most cases, these are harmless developments.
But the downside is that the ever-changing nature of skin can make recognizing a problem more difficult, and this is where skin checks can be very useful.
With our trained eyes and equipment, we thoroughly scan your skin for potential signs of skin cancer, and then we take a quick sample of anything we find suspicious. From there, we quickly review these samples for signs of abnormal cell changes, precancerous cells, or cancerous cells.
One of the many benefits of regular skin checks for cancer is that we’re able to spot and treat potential skin cancers quickly. In fact, skin cancer is one of the more treatable types of cancer, and the earlier we’re able to treat the problem the better your outcome.
When it comes to how often you should have your skin checked, we can come up with a good schedule based on your sun exposure and other factors, such as skin type and history of cancer. And we can set this schedule after you come in for a baseline skin check.
To schedule your skin cancer screening, please contact our office in Los Gatos, California, today to set up an appointment.
