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 Dermatology, Laser, and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, formerly the Goslen Center, was formed in 1990. It was the FIRST Mohs Surgery Center in Charlotte. Dr Goslen still has the most experience with Mohs surgery in North Carolina, Charlotte, and the surrounding areas.
You have been diagnosed with skin cancer. You're wondering, how did this happen? What can be done, and am I in serious danger? You are not alone. Each year, more than 1.2 million people in the USA are diagnosed with skin cancer. Skin cancer is not necessarily life threatening. However, untreated, it can continue to progress. The leading cause of skin cancer is sunlight (ultraviolet light) exposure. Just one severe sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer by as much as 50%.
There are three main types of skin cancer. These are:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Malignant Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common. It is the slowest growing and least dangerous of the three and represents about 80% of all skin cancers. BCCs are raised, translucent, pearly nodules which may crust, ulcerate and sometimes bleed. They occur most commonly in sun-exposed areas.
The second most common is Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) . SCCs are more dangerous than BCCs due to the tendency to recur after surgery and spread to other organs in the body. SCCs are usually raised, pink, opaque nodules or patches which frequently ulcerate in the center. Approximately 2,000 people die each year from SCC although the cure rate can be as high as 95% when properly treated.
The least common, but most dangerous, is Malignant Melanoma (MM) . This form of skin cancer can be life-threatening because it has a tendency to spread to distant organs. It is estimated that the lifetime risk of someone developing melanoma who was born in the year 2000 is 1 in 75. MMs are usually small brown-black or larger multicolored patches, plaques or nodules with an irregular outline. They may crust on the surface or bleed and many of them may arise from pre-existing moles. Most importantly to know, however, is that early detection and removal of MMs can result in a high cure rate.
There are several effective methods for treating skin cancer. The method chosen will depend upon factors such as location, size and prior therapy. Methods include surgical removal with suturing, curettage and electrodessication, radiotherapy, cryosurgery, topical chemotherapy and Mohs Surgery. Mohs uniformly produces the highest success rate, even for the most difficult tumors. The cure rate ranges from 95-99%, even when other forms of treatment have failed.
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