Skin Cancer
Skin cancers can be of different types, and the first critical step for a treatment provider is to identify the type of skin cancer and develop an appropriate treatment program. Fantastic, golden, and board certified dermatologist and fellowship trained Mohs surgeon Dr. Jamie McGinness provides cutting edge treatments for various types of skin cancers to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other areas.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer prevalent today is basal cell carcinoma. This cancer typically appears as red patches, open sores, or pearly bumps on the skin. Overexposure to UV rays often causes this irregular growth, but it may not spread beyond the original lesion.
Basal cell carcinoma is usually not life threatening, but if left untreated, it can invade surrounding or deeper structures, and develop into a permanent disfigurement. Signs of basal cell carcinoma may include:
- A bleeding or weeping sore that does not heal
- A persistent patch of crusty, red, or irritated skin
- A shiny growth of any color
- A crater-like pink growth with a rolled edge
- A taut, scar-like area of skin
- A new non-resolving growth on the skin
Dr. McGinness is a board certified dermatologist and fellowship trained Mohs surgeon providing treatments for basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is the second most common type of skin cancer, and is typically non-metastatic. But just like basal cell carcinoma, it may cause serious disfigurements, if left untreated. In rare cases, this cancer may spread to other areas and become life threatening. The good thing is that treatment for this type of cancer has a high success rate, as long as the cancer is detected early.
Common signs of squamous cell carcinoma include:
- A crusty, scaly red patch that does not heal, and may bleed
- A crater-like growth that may bleed, and tends to grow rapidly
- A crusty or bleeding open sore that does not heal
- A growth, similar to a wart, which may crust and bleed
- A new non-resolving growth on the skin
Timely treatment is vital for squamous cell carcinoma because it has the potential to grow wider and deeper, invade adjacent and deeper structures, even spread to other parts of the body.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanoma is usually dark colored and irregular in shape, and may resemble a mole. This cancer may also arise from existing moles in the body. Therefore, people with multiple atypical moles on their body may be at a higher risk of developing melanoma. Patients should see a dermatologist if they notice the appearance of an atypical mole, or a mole that is irregularly shaped.
Common signs of melanoma include:
- A mole or mole-like growth with an asymmetrical shape
- A dark growth with irregular, or scalloped, edges
- A growth that contains variations in color within the same lesion
- A growth that is larger than a pencil eraser in diameter
- A growth that changes in size, shape, color, or elevation
Fantastic, diligent, and board certified dermatologist Dr. McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other communities and cities in this region.
If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)
Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis, Shiloh, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.