Saving Lives Of Florida Residents Who Develop Skin Cancer Each Year: The Key Is Early Detection And Treatment

Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Public Health
Article Date: 18 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Once every two hours a Florida resident is diagnosed with a new case of melanoma skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Local dermatologists are working to decrease this alarming statistic, and increase the likelihood that local residents diagnosed with this deadliest type of skin cancer will survive.

"Staying out of the sun or protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays is the best defense against skin cancer, but it's equally important to have your skin examined at least once a year by a board-certified dermatologist, especially if you have any moles that are irregular in shape or have recently appeared or changed in size, shape or color," said Drs. Harold Rabinovitz and Brian Katz of Skin and Cancer Associates. "Early detection of suspicious moles is the key to improving survival from melanoma."

When melanoma is caught in its early stages, it's almost always curable.

Risk factors for melanoma include:

-- Sunlight, or too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation

-- Presence of many moles and/or large moles (>6mm)

-- Fair skin, freckling, light eyes, or natural red or blond hair

-- Family history of melanoma

-- Past personal history of melanoma

Traditionally, dermatologists have relied on their own eyes and judgment in deciding whether to remove a suspicious mole.

Skin and Cancer Associates is participating in a nationwide patient trial to test an investigational medical technology called MelaFind(R), designed to assist physicians in the early diagnosis of melanoma.

MelaFind is a non-invasive hand-held imaging device that emits light of multiple wavelengths to capture images of suspicious pigmented skin lesions (moles). MelaFind then analyzes the images in order to provide information to the physician and produce a recommendation of whether the lesion should be biopsied.

"We encourage patients to come in for skin exams in general, especially during the summer months when people tend to spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun," said Drs. Rabinovitz and Katz.

About Skin and Cancer Associates

Skin & Cancer Associates and the Center for Cosmetic Enhancement (R) ("SCA") is a physician group practice that was founded in 1970. The group has grown steadily over the years, as has its reputation as a collection of top- notch doctors. SCA now boasts 36 dermatologists practicing out of 25 locations. The physicians in the group are all Board-Certified Dermatologists, which means they have passed a rigorous examination proving their mastery of dermatology and its many component parts including dermatopathology. For more information, visit http://www.scacce.com.

Skin and Cancer Associates
http://www.scacce.com

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