The best time for skin cancer treatment in the Bethesda MD area is now

Skin cancer is a form of cancer that claims an alarming number of lives each year. What is so disturbing about the statistics regarding skin cancer deaths is that a large number of skin cancer cases are linked to UV exposure. When the sun is shining and feels wonderfully warm on the skin, it might be easy to let thoughts of skin cancer fade away momentarily. It is in these times that it is most important to remember that skin cancer is a reality for millions of people, and can just as easily affect your skin.

Noticing a suspicious mark on the skin can be a little frightening. Receiving the diagnosis of skin cancer could cause a brief flash of panic. With Dr. Prussick and his experienced team, you are in good hands. We offer customized skin cancer treatment to our patients from Bethesda, MD and surrounding area.

A matter of timing

If a mole or mark on the skin looks suspicious, there is no reason to wait. Scheduling your skin cancer screening at Washington Dermatology Center right away leads to the earliest possible confirmation. Likewise, if your skin cancer screening confirms skin cancer, the best time to start treatment is immediately. One of the factors that determines the outcome of treatment is timing, so time is of the essence. When skin cancer treatment is started right away, the odds of an optimal outcome are significantly increased. The longer one waits to receive a diagnosis or treatment, the more unpredictable the outcome.

• Basal cell carcinomas, which are quite common, are typically not a huge risk to health. These cancers, however, can cause disfigurement if they spread into a large area of tissue. With early treatment of basal cell carcinoma, the risk of scarring is minimized.
• Next in line in terms of frequency is squamous cell carcinoma. Early treatment is vital to long term healthy. Squamous cell carcinoma which has reached advanced stages can be fatal.
• Squamous cell carcinomas are likely to develop from precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses.
• Fortunately, the most concerning type of skin cancer, melanoma, is also the least common. Still, approximately ten thousand deaths occur each year from melanoma skin cancer. This is due to malignancy that spreads into vital organs and lymph nodes.
• Early detection and treatment of melanoma, before cancer has spread, significantly increases survival rate.
• The five year survival rate for quickly detected melanoma is 98 percent.
• The five year survival rate for melanoma that has spread to lymph nodes is approximately 62 percent.
• Five year survival for cases in which melanoma has spread to organs is 15 percent.
• The time for treatment is now.

Your skin health is a serious subject. Call Washington Dermatology Center in Frederick or Rockville to schedule your skin cancer screening.