Skin Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment in La Jolla
Living in San Diego and Southern California means your exposure to harmful, skin cancer causing ultraviolet radiation is much higher than other areas of the country. Whether you have already been diagnosed with skin cancer or if you are concerned about a spot or growth you've found anywhere on your skin, making an appointment to see a Dermatologist as soon as possible is very important. Though skin cancer continues to occur at an alarming rate, early detection and treatment can completely cure skin cancer in most cases. Award winning, board certified Dermatologist, Susan M. Stuart, M.D. can diagnose and treat basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma at La Jolla Dermatology. To schedule a consultation, call (858) 623-6333 or you can request a consultation online.
Because of many advances in cancer research, skin cancer is rarely fatal if detected and treated early. Though a skin cancer diagnosis can be frightening, you can count on the staff and physicians at La Jolla Dermatology to give you excellent and compassionate care. Dr. Stuart is a top dermatologist in San Diego and has the expertise to provide comprehensive skin cancer treatments and considerable knowledge in skin damage prevention to help you protect your skin long after the successful treatment of your skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Diagnosis
In order to diagnose skin cancer, the affected skin cells must be removed and examined under a microscope. If skin cancer is diagnosed, treatment is determined by the type of cancer, the stage of growth and where on the body the skin cancer appears. Almost 80% of all skin cancers occur on the head or neck.
Dr. Stuart's office specializes in skin care in San Diego, and she has great skill in diagnosing skin cancer, great compassion with treating each patient and considerable expertise in skin cancer cell removal.
Skin Cancer Treatment at La Jolla Dermatology
The most common treatment for skin cancer is to surgically remove the growth. Skin cancer can also be removed by scraping away the cells with an electric current to reduce the bleeding and to help kill the cancer cells. Both of these procedures will leave minor though visible scars.
A longer procedure, called Mohs Surgery is also available and has the highest success rate for completely removing all of the cancerous skin cells. Preventing cancer cell re-growth is a very important aspect any skin cancer surgery. Mohs Surgery is specifically created to eliminate the occurrence of cancer cell re-growth by completing a series of scraping, analyzing and mapping techniques of the cancer's growth until all the cancer cells are completely removed. Mohs Surgery can take many hours to complete.
If further treatment is necessary, Dr. Stuart will discuss your treatment options with you during a follow up visit.
Skin cancer surgery may be performed under local anesthetic with light sedation at La Jolla Dermatology. If your surgery requires general anesthesia, Dr. Stuart will discuss the specific arrangements for your surgery during your consultation.
Skin Cancer Removal Recovery
Skin cancer removal success rates are very high, even with malignant melanoma, if the cancer growth is caught in a timely manner and appropriate treatment is administered.
After surgical removal of the cancer growth, the wound will be closed and bandaged. You may experience some bleeding, and it is important to avoid over the counter pain relievers like Aspirin, NSAFD's, and Ibuprofen as this can increase bleeding and bruising. Dr. Stuart may prescribe pain relievers if necessary.
You may experience swelling, scabbing and bruising as the wound heals. The healing process can take up to 10 days. Your scar will continue to heal for up to a year and should turn white and become thinner as the healing process continues.
Why Choose La Jolla Dermatology?
At our state of the art facilities in La Jolla, our skin cancer surgeries and treatments are administered by a board certified Dermatologist and laser expert, Susan M. Stuart, M.D. Dr. Stuart has over 15 years of experience specializing in cosmetic, laser and medical dermatology. Dr. Stuart is also a member of the clinical faculty of the Division of Dermatology at the prestigious UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Stuart is a respected member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), American Society for Dermatological Surgery (ASDS) and has presented lectures at dermatology symposiums around the country.
Dr. Stuart is considered one San Diego's leading experts in Dermatology and Laser Surgery and has been selected as one of America's Top Physicians in Dermatology. Dr. Stuart completed a Pediatric Dermatology fellowship at the prestigious Stanford University School of Medicine where she received a grant and support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for her neonatal skin studies.
To schedule a consultation with award winning, board certified Dermatologist, Dr. Susan Stuart, call (858) 623-6333 or you can request a consultation.
