There are three kinds of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell are the most common kinds of skin cancer and melanoma is easily the most lethal. There are 2 million new cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer and there are 68,100 new cases of melanoma every year. There are 8,700 deaths a year from melanoma and 3,090 deaths a year from basal and squamous cell cancers.

Only 36% of persons with metastatic melanoma (skin cancer that has spread) are alive 5 years after the diagnosis of melanoma. The news isn’t all bad. When melanoma is caught in its early stage, the five year survival rate is 98% and even after melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes, the five year survival rate is 62% if it has not metastasized (spread to distant organs, such as the liver, brain or kidneys).

Skin cancer begins as a precancerous lesion on the skin. For example, melanoma begins as a precancerous mole called dysplastic nevi. The moles are often difficult to remove and biopsy if you develop dozens of them. If you or a loved one have been misdiagnosed, it is crucial to contact a skin cancer misdiagnosis lawyer urgently.

Stopping Skin Cancer Before it Begins

So, what can you do to stop skin cancer aside from staying out of the sun and wearing globs of suntan lotion? One in six Americans will develop a precancerous lesion known as actinic keratoses. This is a lesion on the skin that appears rough and red. In some cases, the precancerous lesion goes away on its own, particularly if you avoid extra sun exposure. However, in many cases, you can stop skin cancer in its tracks by removing precancerous lesions.

If you have just one or two lesions, the doctor can freeze them off with liquid nitrogen. And doctors may prescribe a cream to treat a large area, such as your cheek, to prevent precancerous lesions from appearing. One of the creams has a chemotherapy drug called fluorouracil, which kills the precancerous cells by blocking essential cellular functions within them. Another cream stimulates the immune system to kill the precancerous cells.

Another form of treatment is photodynamic therapy, in which creams or injections made the precancers sensitive to light, before they are destroyed with a laser. The treatments destroy about 80% of precancerous lesions.

Regular Skin Checks

The key to stopping skin cancer in its tracks is removing the precancerous lesions on your skin before they become cancerous. So, what should you do? On top of checking your skin every day for suspicious moles and lesions, you should go for regular skin checks with your physician. Regular skin checks by you and your physician is the best way to make sure a precancerous lesion does not develop into skin cancer.

Contact Us Today

It is important to always consult with a doctor right away if you are feeling any symptoms of skin cancer. However, if you or a loved one where misdiagnosed or mistreated please contact a skin cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to help you understand the steps you can take.

Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer