Skin Cancer

Spending time outdoors without sunscreen can significantly increase your risk for skin cancer. At Head & Neck Cancer Center of Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, cancer specialist Yadro Ducic, MD, FACS, provides superior cancer care for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Dr. Ducic performs minimally invasive surgery, including Mohs surgery, to remove cancerous tissue. He also offers chemotherapy, radiation, and other cancer treatments in-office. Call the nearest office to schedule a skin cancer consultation or book an appointment online today. 

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a disease that develops when skin cells divide abnormally, often due to exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.

There are several types of skin cancer, including:

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing skin cancer that starts in cells in the uppermost layers of your skin, usually in the face, arms, and other sun-exposed areas.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma develops in the middle layers of skin in any part of your body, often in areas exposed to the sun. This type of skin cancer is more likely to spread than basal cell cancer, which can cause additional complications.

Melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that develops in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) that give skin its color.

Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a cancer of the soft tissues and bones that can destroy local tissue and spread to other areas of your body.

Head & Neck Cancer Center of Texas offers comprehensive care for all types of skin cancer. 

When should I seek medical care for skin cancer?

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Head & Neck Cancer Center of Texas if you have skin cancer symptoms like:

• Irregular moles
• Red or scaly lesions
• Flesh-colored or waxy bump
• Slow-healing or bleeding sores

Dr. Ducic confirms skin cancer and determines the type during a physical exam and diagnostic tests. He completes an in-office biopsy, a surgical procedure to remove a sample of suspicious skin tissue, and checks the sample under a microscope for cancerous cells.

Based on the type of skin cancer you have and how advanced it is, Dr. Ducic customizes a care plan to prevent the cancer from worsening and spreading to other parts of your body.

How is skin cancer treated?

To treat basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, Head & Neck Cancer Center of Texas offers radiation therapy. Dr. Ducic also performs minimally invasive surgery to remove cancerous tissue and nearby lymph nodes.

You may also be a candidate for Mohs surgery. This surgery involves the removal of cancerous tissue layer by layer. Dr. Ducic checks each layer under a microscope and continues removing tissue until no cancer is present in the sample.

The treatment plan for melanoma may include radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery to remove cancerous tissue and lymph nodes. Surgery and radiation are also the standard treatments for sarcomas.

Call the Head & Neck Cancer Center of Texas office nearest you to schedule a skin cancer evaluation or book an appointment online today.