Skin Cancers & Reconstruction

Skin cancer can sometimes be unexpectedly complex and require multiple specialists and multiple difficult procedures to achieve adequate reconstruction. Make sure to wear your sunscreen, know your ABCDE’s, and always monitor for non-healing lesions. 

A: Asymmetry, one half of the mole, doesn’t match the other half.

B: Border, the edges are irregular, notched, or blurred. Normal moles are round or oval.

C: Color, The mole is not evenly colored. It may include different shades of brown or black, even patches of pink, white, or blue.

D: Diameter, The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across

E: Evolving, The mole is changing in size, shape, or color

Get your skin checked regularly by your PCP or dermatologist so you can catch cancer early. The sometimes complicated reconstructions are always easier when the tumor is small.

1) GET CHECKED: Get checked early. Cancers are always easier to treat and cure when they are small and caught early. Tell your PCP or dermatologist about your concerns right away. A simple biopsy can get answers quickly and efficiently. 

2) GET RESULTS: If you have cancer, find out which type of skin cancer you have. The most common skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. More serious forms of cancer can be squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. What to expect for the workup and treatment can vary based on the type and grade.

3) BE SURE: Consider getting a second opinion on the pathology if there is doubt or if the signs/symptoms don’t match up.

4) GET HELP: Start your care with Green Country Surgical Arts. Often these cancers can grow larger than expected leaving the removal complicated. Using a trained, experienced surgeon can drastically decrease the risk of long-term damage or disfigurement.

5) FUTURE CARE: Ask about the Castle Biosciences Test, a common test that is state-of-the-art and used by Dr. Tedesco in determining if your skin cancer is at risk of returning or spreading.