BCC, SCC and Melanoma
Please Note:
A fee of $100 will be charged for all notes that are to be completed by Dr. L. Green.
A fee of $75 will be charged for all return to work/school forms that are to be completed by Dr. L. Green.
Missed minor procedure appointments will be charged a fee of $150.
Missed scheduled surgery appointments and endoscopy (colonoscopy / EDG) will be charged a fee of $250.
About
The most common cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or from sunbeds. BCCs, SCCs, and melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on areas that are exposed to the sun, such as your face, head, neck and ears.
Surgery is usually the recommended treatment. This involves removing the BCC, SCC, or melanoma with a margin of normal skin around it, using a local anesthetic. The skin can usually be closed with a few stitches, but sometimes a skin graft is needed.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes.
Recovery
Recovery time from BCC, SCC, and melanoma surgery varies, depending on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes were removed, and whether you undergo reconstruction.
Follow this general advice:
Wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.
Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
Prevention
The most important way to prevent BCC, SCC, and melanoma is to avoid sunburn.
Fair skinned individuals and those with a personal or family history of BCC, SCC, and melanoma should protect their skin from sun exposure daily, year-round and lifelong.
Stay indoors or in the shade in the middle of the day (11:00 am to 3:00 pm).
Wear clothing that covers your skin, like long sleeved-shirts and long pants.
Apply high protection factor SPF50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen generously to exposed skin if outdoors.
Avoid indoor tanning (sun beds, solaria).