With Florida’s blazing sun an issue most months of the year— especially now in the summer months—it’s no surprise that skin cancer diagnoses are on the rise. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before the age of 70, and 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed every day, with an estimated $8.1 billion annual cost of treatment.
While those numbers are staggering, there is hope: when detected early, most skin cancers are curable.
“Early detection is the key,” said Dr. Luis A. Jaramillo, a plastic surgeon with HCA Florida Osceola Hospital. “Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so regular skin cancer screening by a professional who knows what to look for and monitors changes over time can literally save your life.”
Jaramillo recommends making skin cancer screening by a dermatologist or your primary care provider part of your wellness routine. Schedule a skin exam with your provider as part of your annual well visit—more often if you have any of the risk factors: prolonged exposure to UV, radiation from the sun or tanning beds, fair skin and light hair, accumulated sun damage through aging, a family history of skin cancer or a weakened immune system.
Here’s what to look out for and contact your provider as soon as possible: a new growth or spot on the skin, a sore that doesn’t heal or bleeds, change in size, shape, or color of a mole or rough, scaly patch or a wound or sore that heals and then returns Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common types of skin cancer. They can usually be cured if they are detected and treated early. Melanoma can also be cured if it is treated early—but it is the most dangerous skin cancer because it can spread to other parts of the body.
If you receive a skin cancer diagnosis, there are many treatment options available depending on the type, size and location of the tumor, as well as your overall health. Treatments include surgery, cryotherapy, laser therapy and other specialized procedures. For more advanced cases. Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and radiation may also be indicated.
For more information, visit skincancer.org.
