Find Skin Cancer Specialists in Auburn, ME. Whether you’re seeking treatment or looking to schedule a preventative screening, we can connect you with the best dermatologists near you in Auburn, ME.
Local Businesses
Mukerji, Sanjay – Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Pa
Auburn, ME 04210
Green, Pamela – Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Pa
Auburn, ME 04210
Sanjay Mukerji
Auburn, ME 04210
Mukerji Sanjay
Auburn, ME 04210
Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Pa
Auburn, ME 04210
Skin Cancer Specialists FAQ in Auburn, ME
Where is the first place skin cancer spreads to?
Doctors have known for decades that melanoma and many other cancer types tend to spread first into nearby lymph nodes before entering the blood and traveling to distant parts of the body.
Is skin cancer always terminal?
Most skin cancers can be cured if they’re treated before they have a chance to spread. However, more advanced cases of melanoma can be fatal. The earlier skin cancer is found and removed, the better your chances for a full recovery.
What happens if you ignore skin cancer?
These skin cancers will continue to grow if nothing is done to stop them. Extended growth can result in involvement of vital structures like the nose, eyes, ears, bone, tendon or muscle and can become disfiguring or even life-threatening. Fortunately, most of the time they grow very slowly.
What does serious skin cancer look like?
In most cases, cancerous lumps are red and firm and sometimes turn into ulcers, while cancerous patches are usually flat and scaly. Non-melanoma skin cancer most often develops on areas of skin regularly exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest and back.
What are the 3 most common skin cancers?
But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
What organs does melanoma spread to first?
Doctors have known for decades that melanoma and many other cancer types tend to spread first into nearby lymph nodes before entering the blood and traveling to distant parts of the body.
What happens if you test positive for skin cancer?
The goal of treatment is to remove all of the cancer. For this reason, surgery is often part of the treatment plan. When found early, a type of surgery called excision surgery may be the only treatment you need. A dermatologist can often perform this surgery during an office visit while you remain awake.
How urgent is skin cancer?
You’ll have an urgent referral (within 2 weeks) if you have squamous cell skin cancer. Basal cell skin cancers usually do not need an urgent referral, but you should still see a specialist within 18 weeks. The specialist will examine your skin and may do a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of skin cancer.
What stage melanoma is terminal?
Stage 4 is the most advanced phase of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. This means the cancer has spread from the lymph nodes to other organs, most often the lungs. Some doctors also refer to stage 4 melanoma as advanced melanoma.
What are the warning signs of basal cell carcinoma?
A shiny, skin-colored bump that’s translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface. A brown, black or blue lesion — or a lesion with dark spots — with a slightly raised, translucent border. A flat, scaly patch with a raised edge. A white, waxy, scar-like lesion without a clearly defined border.
How often is skin cancer fatal?
Death from basal and squamous cell skin cancers is uncommon. It’s thought that about 2,000 people in the US die each year from these cancers, and that this rate has been dropping in recent years.
How long can you let skin cancer go?
Because it can be quickly growing, it’s very dangerous to leave melanoma untreated. This skin cancer can become life-threatening within 4-6 weeks. The cure rate is high, however, if the melanoma is diagnosed and treated when it is thin or at an early stage.
What does late stage skin cancer look like?
Hard lump on the skin. Hard or swollen lymph nodes. Fatigue. Unexplained pain.
How do you beat skin cancer?
Freezing. Your doctor may destroy actinic keratoses and some small, early skin cancers by freezing them with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery). Excisional surgery. Mohs surgery. Curettage and electrodesiccation or cryotherapy. Radiation therapy. Chemotherapy. Photodynamic therapy. Biological therapy.
What are the early warning signs of malignant melanoma?
The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin (known as the ugly duckling sign).