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Skin Cancer

Jordan Valley Dermatology Center

Dermatologists & Cosmetic Dermatologists located in South Jordan, UT

Spending time in the sun or in tanning beds might seem beneficial in the moment, but too much exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer. At Jordan Valley Dermatology Center in South Jordan, Utah, dermatologist Douglass Forsha, MD, and his team provide skin cancer screenings and in-office treatments. If you see a suspicious mole or are due for a preventive skin cancer screening, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Skin Cancer Q & A

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in one of several cell types within your skin. Like all other types of cancer, skin cancer happens because of uncontrolled or abnormal cell growth. It’s a common type of cancer because of your skin’s exposure to UV radiation, which comes from the sun.

The type of cell that your skin cancer affects determines the type of skin cancer you have. At Jordan Valley Dermatology Center, Dr. Forsha and his team specialize in treating these common skin cancer types:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

BCC is the most common type, often appearing as a flesh-colored or pink bump on your skin. It can occur anywhere on your body but is most common in areas that see a lot of sunlight, like your face, neck, and arms. 

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

SCC is the second most common type of skin cancer. It looks like scaly patches, red bumps, or sores that struggle to heal entirely. Like BCC, SCC can occur anywhere on your body but commonly appear in areas with lots of sun exposure.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer because it spreads easily. It often looks like a mole or develops in a place where you already have a mole. However, it might have an unusual color, shape, or elevation. 

Actinic keratosis (AK)

AK isn’t exactly a type of skin cancer, but it’s a type of precancerous skin growth. Without treatment, these dry or scaly spots can develop into SCC.

How does skin cancer screening work?

At Jordan Valley Dermatology Center, Dr. Forsha and his team provide skin cancer screenings to help you find skin cancer early when it’s easier to treat. 

They examine your skin from head to toe in an effort to find unusual lesions that may be cancerous. You should be sure to report any unusual growths or skin changes during your screening appointment.

If Dr. Forsha finds a possible cancerous growth, he may perform a biopsy. For your skin cancer biopsy, he removes a sample of tissue from the suspicious lesion and sends it to the in-house pathologist for testing. They examine the sample closely and can tell you whether or not it’s cancerous and which type of skin cancer it is. 

How is skin cancer treated?

Your treatment for skin cancer or precancerous growths depends on your diagnosis and whether or not the skin cancer is benign. Depending on the characteristics of your skin cancer or precancerous growth, Dr. Forsha might recommend:

  • Cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen)
  • Excision (cutting off the cancerous lesion and some of the skin around it)
  • Curettage (scraping the lesion off)
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy - we offer GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT)
  • Photodynamic therapy (a combination of laser treatment and medication)

Most treatments for skin cancer are available in the office at Jordan Valley Dermatology Center. Beginning fall 2023, we are proud to be able to offer a gentle, surgery-free treatment that is safe and has a 99%+ cure rate in basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Treatment is done right in the dermatology office over the course of a few weeks using an advanced Image-Guided SRT machine.  It is the only skin cancer treatment with ultra-sound imaging that lets you see the cancer on the screen and review the progress made throughout the course of treatment until there are no visible signs of cancer.  

With GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) there is no cutting, surgical scarring, or need for reconstructive surgery, and you can maintain your normal daily activities throughout treatment. 

For more information about skin cancer types and treatments, book a visit by phone or online at Jordan Valley Dermatology Center today.

 

 

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