Find Skin Cancer Specialists in Porterville, CA. Whether you’re seeking treatment or looking to schedule a preventative screening, we can connect you with the best dermatologists near you in Porterville, CA.
Local Businesses
Valley Ear Nose & Allergy Grp
Porterville, CA 93257
David Sears Farrell
Porterville, CA 93257
Earl Stanton Pearson
Porterville, CA 93257
Janet Gail Tindall
Porterville, CA 93257
Earl Stanton Pearson
Porterville, CA 93258
Skin Cancer Specialists FAQ in Porterville, CA
Can a dermatologist tell if a mole is cancerous just by looking at it?
A visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer. It can’t tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy. If your doctor thinks a mole is a problem, they will give you a shot of numbing medicine, then scrape off as much of the mole as possible.
Can you have skin cancer for years and not know?
For example, certain types of skin cancer can be diagnosed initially just by visual inspection — though a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. But other cancers can form and grow undetected for 10 years or more , as one study found, making diagnosis and treatment that much more difficult.
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.
How fast do skin cancers progress?
Some forms of skin cancer tend to grow in a matter of weeks, while others grow over months, or even longer. While a number of factors determine how fast or slow skin cancer may grow in any one individual, some types of skin cancer are more aggressive than others.
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.
What are five warning signs of skin cancer?
Moles on Your Skin. When it comes to spotting melanoma, moles are often the key. Itchy, Reddish Patches. From time to time, we all get rashes. Lumps and Bumps. Lesions. Any Unexpected Changes.
Can you have melanoma for years and not know?
“You could have melanoma for a long time before you realize it, because some types are not so obvious. Some aggressive forms, like nodular melanoma, grow fast, are visible and can hurt or bleed.” While certain groups may be at a higher risk for melanoma, anyone can get the disease.
What part of the body is most common for melanoma?
They most often develop in areas that have had exposure to the sun, such as your back, legs, arms and face. Melanomas can also occur in areas that don’t receive much sun exposure, such as the soles of your feet, palms of your hands and fingernail beds.
What happens if a 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 skin cancer look like when spreading?
Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common form and looks like an asymmetrical, discolored patch of skin with uneven borders. Lentigo maligna melanoma most often develops in older individuals and looks like a slightly raised blotchy patch of blue-black skin.
Can you pass away from melanoma?
Melanoma is usually curable when detected and treated early. Once it has spread deeper into the skin or other parts of the body, it becomes more difficult to treat and can be deadly. The estimated five-year survival rate for U.S. patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99 percent.
Does skin cancer show up in blood tests?
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.
What kind of doctor should I see for skin cancer?
Dermatologists are experts in caring for the skin and have more experience diagnosing skin cancer than any other doctor. You can find a dermatologist by going to, Find a dermatologist.