Clinical Services at Vail Dermatology

Skin Cancer Screening- Early Detection Can Save Your Life!

Why should you have a skin cancer screening?
Regular examination of the skin by both you and your doctor increases the chances of finding melanoma early. Most melanomas that appear in the skin can be seen by the naked eye. Usually, there is a long period of time when the tumor grows beneath the top layer of skin but does not grow into the deeper skin layers. This period of slow growth allows time for skin cancer to be found early. Skin cancer may be cured if the tumor is found before it spreads deeper. Monthly self-examination of the skin may help find changes that should be reported to a doctor. Regular skin checks by a doctor are important for people who have already had skin cancer, are very fair skinned, or have a family history of skin cancer.

What happens if the physician finds a spot that may be cancer?
If an area on the skin looks abnormal, the physician will want the tissue looked at more closely. They will remove as much of the suspicious tissue as possible with a local excision (biopsy). A pathologist then looks at the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells and a pathology report is created to record the findings. If the spot is either pre-cancerous, or cancerous, then the skin tissue must be treated.

What kinds of treatments are available if I have skin cancer?
At Vail Dermatology, there are many ways we can treat pre-cancer and cancerous cells. All options, procedures, and fees should be discussed with your physician. A few of the options include burning, freezing, surgical removal, and Mohs micrographic surgery.

How often should I have a full body skin cancer screening exam?
Everyone should do a self body exam monthly and watch for the "ABC's of Melanoma" on your moles. They are:

A- Asymmetry. If you drew a line through the middle of the mole, both sides look the same. Symmetrical moles are a good sign.

B- Border. Benign moles have smooth, even borders. Uneven borders may be an early warning sign for melanoma.

C- Color. Healthy moles are all one color, usually brown. Watch for multiple colors, some time tan, red, white, or blue.

D- Diameter. Moles are typically small in size, comparable to a pencil eraser.

E- Evolving. When a mole changes after being the same for some time (any of the above traits) or if it begin to bleed, scale, itch, or become bothersome, then you should schedule an appointment with a skilled dermatologist such as those at Vail Dermatology.

Yearly skin exams are recommended for everone, and those with a history of skin cancer, fair skin, or who have a family history of skin cancer should have full skin examinations every 6 months.

How do I make an appointment for a skin cancer screening?

Please call today to schedule your skin cancer screening, at either our Aspen (Basalt) or Vail (Edwards) location.