One of the many fantastic things about the great state of Texas is all of the sunshine that we get here. Because of all that wonderful sun, it should be no surprise that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. In just this year alone, 2 million Americans will get diagnosed with skin cancer. However, even though skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, if you find it early and get it removed, it has one of the highest survival rates of any form of cancer. This is exactly why more and more patients are rushing for skin cancer screenings and checks. Patients who have a family history of skin cancer, are fair-skinned, or who have spent a lot of time in the sun should schedule annual or bi-annual skin cancer screenings.
If you’ve noticed any changes to your skin, new moles, new lesions, discolored patches, or if you just want to get a skin cancer screening, patients should immediately call Dr. Perri. When you call us, you’ll be able to speak with one of our friendly and dedicated staff about any of your questions and concerns. It’s always a huge pleasure to speak with our new patients.
The next step is to schedule your first meeting with Dr. Perri. This preliminary consultation is when Dr. Perri will learn more about your medical history and if you’re taking any medications right now. From there, Dr. Perri will perform an examination and inspect your skin for any suspicious signs. After that, Dr. Perri will develop a treatment plan for you that addresses your unique condition and your concerns. This treatment plan is unique to you and will help Dr. Perri get the most optimal results. In some cases, Dr. Perri may even suggest performing further analysis the same day to determine if a suspicious mole is cancerous.
Men and women are equally susceptible to skin cancer. But there are a few factors that greatly increase your risk of getting skin cancer. If any of your direct relatives have had skin cancer, you are at a greater risk of getting it yourself. If this is the case for you, setting up regular screenings is a great way to protect yourself. For a lot of folks, they grew up before realizing exactly how damaging the sun is. If you spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid without sunscreen, you might want to consider getting screened every year. For clients that have light hair, light eyes, and fair skin, your chances of getting skin cancer are higher.
Patients that have lots of moles or who are light-skinned may want to get checked for skin cancer once or twice every year. During this skin cancer screening, Dr. Perri will thoroughly examine every inch of your skin looking for signs of skin cancer. If Dr. Perri discovers something that concerns him, he may decide to remove a mole or a suspicious growth for further examination. Removing a mole for analysis is called a “biopsy.” During a biopsy, Dr. Perri will numb the area using local anesthesia. He will then remove the mole with a shave biopsy and send the sample to a pathologist for further examination.
Skin cancer has one of the highest survival rates of any cancer because it is so easy and fast to find it early. Make sure that you call Dr. Perri today to set up your consultation and skin cancer screening.
If you have additional questions about the skin conditions mentioned or have a concern regarding your current condition, contact our team today! Unsure if your insurance will cover your visit? Check out our insurance coverage page for a list of accepted insurance companies so you know beforehand if you’re covered.
