Skin Cancer Screening in San Antonio and Zapata, TX

What happens during skin cancer screening?

Skin cancer screening is a visual examination of the skin on your entire body, from head to toes inclusively, to look for signs of skin cancer. During the screening, patients remove their clothing and change into a hospital gown. A systematic check is made from head to toe, including areas not exposed to the sun as well as the nail beds and scalp. If a suspicious lesion or another abnormality is noted, a tiny sample of tissue (called a biopsy) will be removed and sent to a lab for evaluation under a microscope. Skin cancer screenings take just a few minutes to perform, but they play a critical role in preventing skin cancer and in diagnosing skin cancer in its earliest stages. Annual skin screenings are recommended for most individuals to help detect skin cancer early and ensure ongoing skin health.

What are the types of skin cancer?

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (about 85% of all skin cancer cases)
  • Where does it start? It begins with the basal cells, a type of cell within the skin responsible for producing new skin cells as old ones die off.
  • Where does it occur? Basal cells are found at the bottom of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Basal cell carcinoma occurs most often on areas of skin exposed to the sun.
  • Why does it occur? Basal cell carcinoma develops due to a mutation present in the skin’s DNA, which causes mass multiplication of skin cells that would normally die off. This abnormal growth results in a cancerous tumor. Most cases are caused by long-term exposure to UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds/lamps.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (about 10% of all skin cancer cases)
  • Where does it start? It starts as a growth of cells on the skin.
  • Where does it occur? Squamous cells are found in the middle and outer layers of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs most often in areas of sun exposure.
  • Why does it occur? It occurs when squamous cells develop mutations in their DNA. These mutations cause uncontrolled multiplication of skin cells, which can invade and destroy healthy body tissues. Too much UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds/lamps is a common cause.
• Melanoma (less than 5% of all cases, but responsible for nearly all skin cancer-related deaths)
  • Melanoma is the rarest but most dangerous type of skin cancer. It develops from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color). Melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body, which is why early detection is critical.
• Precancerous Lesions
  • What are precancerous lesions? Pre-cancerous conditions of the skin are changes to skin cells that make them more likely to develop into skin cancers.
  • Why are they called precancerous? They are not yet cancer, but if untreated, they can develop into non-melanoma skin cancer.
• Atypical Moles (Dysplastic Nevi)
  • What are atypical moles? These moles can occur anywhere on the body, and their appearance can vary dramatically. They are often unusual-looking moles with irregular features under the microscope.
  • Are they cancerous? They are considered benign but carry an increased risk of developing into melanoma in the future.
  • How do I spot an atypical mole? The ABCDE warning signs:
    • A – Asymmetry: If you draw a line through the middle of the lesion and the two halves do not match, it may be a warning sign.
    • B – Border: Borders tend to be uneven, scalloped, or notched. Benign moles usually have smoother, more even borders.
    • C – Color: Multiple colors can be a warning sign. Benign moles are usually one shade of brown, while melanoma may include shades of brown, tan, black, red, blue, or white.
    • D – Diameter/Dark: Lesions the size of a pencil eraser (about 6 mm or ¼ inch) or larger are concerning.
    • E – Evolving: Any changes in shape, color, size, elevation, or new symptoms such as bleeding, itching, or crusting may indicate a problem.

How is skin cancer treated?

• Mohs Surgery
  • What happens during Mohs surgery? During Mohs surgery, a surgeon removes the cancer layer by layer, examining each layer under the microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This allows the surgeon to be certain that the entire growth is removed while avoiding the removal of excessive amounts of surrounding healthy skin.
• Electrodessication and Curettage (ED&C)
  • What is ED&C? Minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat various skin lesions.
  • What happens during an ED&C procedure? The procedure involves scraping away the abnormal tissue with a curette followed by the application of an electrical current that destroys any remaining cells and minimizes bleeding. These procedures are done in our office with Dr. Ana Sauceda.
• Cryotherapy
  • What happens when cryotherapy is used? A minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold to freeze and remove abnormal tissue.