Skin Cancer Specialists Winter Park FL

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

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Skin Cancer Specialists FAQ in Winter Park, FL

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 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 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 is the most common treatment for skin cancer?

Surgery is the primary treatment for most skin cancers. For patients with basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas, a dermatologist or other qualified doctor may perform an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic.

What is the life expectancy of someone with basal cell carcinoma?

Survival for most non-melanoma skin cancers is excellent. The 5-year relative survival for BCC is 100%. This means that, on average, all of the people diagnosed with BCC are just as likely to live at least 5 years after their diagnosis as people in the general population.

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 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.

Which form of skin cancer is the most life threatening?

The most serious is melanoma. Our skin is made up of cells: basal cells, squamous cells and melanocytes. The different types of skin cancer are named for the skin cell where the cancer develops: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

How long is too long to leave skin cancer?

In as little as 6 weeks melanoma can put your life at risk as it has the ability to grow quickly and spread to other parts of your body including your organs. It can be present in any area, even those which haven’t been in the sun, although sun exposure is a common cause.

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.

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.

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.