Skin Cancer Specialists New Hartford NY

Find Skin Cancer Specialists in New Hartford, NY. Whether you’re seeking treatment or looking to schedule a preventative screening, we can connect you with the best dermatologists near you in New Hartford, NY.

Local Businesses

Skin Cancer Specialists FAQ in New Hartford, NY

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 skin cancers are fatal?

Melanoma, which means “black tumor,” is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It grows quickly and has the ability to spread to any organ. Melanoma comes from skin cells called melanocytes.

What does the first stage of melanoma look like?

Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the shape, color, size, or feel of an existing mole. However, melanoma may also appear as a new mole. People should tell their doctor if they notice any changes on the skin. The only way to diagnose melanoma is to remove tissue and check it for cancer cells.

Will skin cancer show up on a blood test?

Can Blood Tests or Scans Detect Skin Cancer? Currently, blood tests and imaging scans like MRI or PET are not used as screening tests for skin cancer.

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.

How long can you have basal cell carcinoma before it spreads?

The cancer is the result of cumulative damage of years spent in the sun, and may take 20 years to manifest. Although it’s often more common in older people, it can occur in younger adults, too. Basal cell carcinoma spreads very slowly and very rarely will metastasize, Dr. Christensen says.

What happens if skin biopsy is positive?

Generally, after a patient receives positive melanoma results, his or her doctors will need to proceed with staging the malignancy— which essentially means determining the extent of the cancer—and developing a treatment plan based on how far the cancer has progressed.

What does the beginning of squamous cell carcinoma look like?

SCCs can appear as thick, rough, scaly patches that may crust or bleed. They can also resemble warts, or open sores that don’t completely heal. Sometimes SCCs show up as growths that are raised at the edges with a lower area in the center that may bleed or itch.

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 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.

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.

Do you need chemo for basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma very rarely reaches an advanced stage, so systemic chemotherapy is not typically used to treat these cancers. Advanced basal cell cancers are more likely to be treated with targeted therapy.

What is the hardest skin cancer to treat?

Melanoma is not as common as basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas but is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. If left untreated or caught in a late-stage, melanomas are more likely to spread to organs beyond the skin, making them difficult to treat and potentially life-limiting.

What organ system does melanoma affect?

Melanoma can spread to parts of your body far away from where the cancer started. This is called advanced, metastatic, or stage IV melanoma. It can move to your lungs, liver, brain, bones, digestive system, and lymph nodes.

What foods help melanoma?

Antioxidants, such as retinol, are important for a healthy immune system. Studies have found that higher intake of retinol-rich foods, such as fish, milk, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, and orange/yellow fruits and vegetables led to a 20 percent reduced risk of developing melanoma.