Skin Cancer
About skin cancer • What to look for • Risk factors • Types • Prevention • Treatments
Prevention, diagnosis and treatment from the experts.
Our sun-kissed state makes Floridians especially vulnerable to skin cancer. Dr. DePasquale is dedicated to detecting possible skin cancers early, when the chance for cure is the greatest. Dr. DePasquale provides state-of-the-art skin cancer treatments to remove skin cancer. When was your last skin and mole check? Call (904) 461-6060 to schedule your skin cancer check at St. Augustine Ear, Nose & Throat in Florida.
About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to ultraviolent (UV) rays in the sun and a history of childhood sunburn are the main causes of most skin cancers. Skin cancer that is detected and treated early are usually curable. Untreated skin cancer can spread and cause disfigurement, and even death. It is important to have regular skin and mole checks by a qualified doctor, such as Dr. DePasquale.
Go Back to top>>
What to look for
There are many different kinds of types of skin cancers, and they have several different appearances. Skin cancer can develop on normal skin, injured skin, or moles. Call our office for an appointment at (904) 461-6060 if you notice a change in skin or mole texture, shape, size, color. Skin cancer may look like a sore that does not heal or bleeds. Cancerous moles may swell, itch, bleed, or cause pain.
Go Back to top>>
Risk factors for skin cancer
- Fair or light colored skin
- Blue, green, or gray eyes
- Blonde hair, red hair
- Sun exposure- sun bathing, suntan booths, employment in the sun
- Receiving multiple sunburns as child
- Cigarette smoking
- Exposure to cancer causing agents
- Chronically injured or burned skin
- Multiple moles
- Dysplastic or atypical moles
- Freckled skin
- Genetic predisposition
Go Back to top>>
Types of skin cancer
There are many different types of skin cancers, and they have several different appearances:
Melanoma skin cancer: can develop on the normal skin, injured skin, or mole. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin-- even places that were not exposed to the sun. Look for changes in the shape, texture, size or color of a mole or new skin growth. Read more about melanoma.
Non-melanoma skin cancer: tends to develop on places that have been exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, nose ears, face, and backs of the hands. Basal cell skin cancer is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that is typically very curable if detected and treated early. Read more about basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: is a relatively slow growing type of non-melanoma skin cancer that appears on areas of skin that received frequent sun exposure or in burns, scars, or skin injuries, such as the face, ears, neck, lip, scalp, and the back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinoma has a variety of appearances, including a wart-like growth, or gray or yellow-brown in color. Precancerous cells appear as red scaly or crusted patches. Read more about squamous cell carcinoma.
Read more about types of skin cancer in our Education Library.
Go Back to top>>
Prevention
You should perform a full body skin and mole inspection monthly. The American Cancer Society recommends a yearly skin inspection by a qualified professional every year after the age of 40, and every three years for people ages 20-40. If you experience skin cancer, your doctor will recommend more frequent professional skin inspections.
It is important to wear sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA rays. Most commercial sunscreens only block UVB rays. For your convenience, sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA rays are is available in our office.
You may help prevent skin cancer by:
- Limiting sun exposure
- Wear sunblock that blocks both UVA and UVB rays
- Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 2 PM
- Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays
- Avoid suntanning outside or in artificial tanning booths
Go Back to top>>
Treatment
Most skin cancers that are detected and treated early have very good cure rates. There are several types of removal methods depending on the type, size, location, and stage of cancer. Most treatments can take place in the doctor's office and use a local anesthesia. Learn more about skin cancer treatments in our Education Library.
Go Back to top>>
Skin Cancer
About skin cancer • What to look for • Risk factors • Types • Prevention • Treatments
Prevention, diagnosis and treatment from the experts.
Our sun-kissed state makes Floridians especially vulnerable to skin cancer. Dr. DePasquale is dedicated to detecting possible skin cancers early, when the chance for cure is the greatest. Dr. DePasquale provides state-of-the-art skin cancer treatments to remove skin cancer. When was your last skin and mole check? Call (904) 461-6060 to schedule your skin cancer check at St. Augustine Ear, Nose & Throat in Florida.
About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to ultraviolent (UV) rays in the sun and a history of childhood sunburn are the main causes of most skin cancers. Skin cancer that is detected and treated early are usually curable. Untreated skin cancer can spread and cause disfigurement, and even death. It is important to have regular skin and mole checks by a qualified doctor, such as Dr. DePasquale.
Go Back to top>>
What to look for
There are many different kinds of types of skin cancers, and they have several different appearances. Skin cancer can develop on normal skin, injured skin, or moles. Call our office for an appointment at (904) 461-6060 if you notice a change in skin or mole texture, shape, size, color. Skin cancer may look like a sore that does not heal or bleeds. Cancerous moles may swell, itch, bleed, or cause pain.
Go Back to top>>
Risk factors for skin cancer
- Fair or light colored skin
- Blue, green, or gray eyes
- Blonde hair, red hair
- Sun exposure- sun bathing, suntan booths, employment in the sun
- Receiving multiple sunburns as child
- Cigarette smoking
- Exposure to cancer causing agents
- Chronically injured or burned skin
- Multiple moles
- Dysplastic or atypical moles
- Freckled skin
- Genetic predisposition
Go Back to top>>
Types of skin cancer
There are many different types of skin cancers, and they have several different appearances:
Melanoma skin cancer: can develop on the normal skin, injured skin, or mole. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin-- even places that were not exposed to the sun. Look for changes in the shape, texture, size or color of a mole or new skin growth. Read more about melanoma.
Non-melanoma skin cancer: tends to develop on places that have been exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, nose ears, face, and backs of the hands. Basal cell skin cancer is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that is typically very curable if detected and treated early. Read more about basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: is a relatively slow growing type of non-melanoma skin cancer that appears on areas of skin that received frequent sun exposure or in burns, scars, or skin injuries, such as the face, ears, neck, lip, scalp, and the back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinoma has a variety of appearances, including a wart-like growth, or gray or yellow-brown in color. Precancerous cells appear as red scaly or crusted patches. Read more about squamous cell carcinoma.
Read more about types of skin cancer in our Education Library.
Go Back to top>>
Prevention
You should perform a full body skin and mole inspection monthly. The American Cancer Society recommends a yearly skin inspection by a qualified professional every year after the age of 40, and every three years for people ages 20-40. If you experience skin cancer, your doctor will recommend more frequent professional skin inspections.
It is important to wear sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA rays. Most commercial sunscreens only block UVB rays. For your convenience, sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA rays are is available in our office.
You may help prevent skin cancer by:
- Limiting sun exposure
- Wear sunblock that blocks both UVA and UVB rays
- Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 2 PM
- Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays
- Avoid suntanning outside or in artificial tanning booths
Go Back to top>>
Treatment
Most skin cancers that are detected and treated early have very good cure rates. There are several types of removal methods depending on the type, size, location, and stage of cancer. Most treatments can take place in the doctor's office and use a local anesthesia. Learn more about skin cancer treatments in our Education Library.
Go Back to top>>