The Sunshine State is awesome for enjoying the great outdoors but isn’t always so good for your skin health. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and at Dermatology of Boca we encourage our patients to protect themselves against the harmful effects of the sun.
More Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer than all other cancers combined. An estimated 40% of these cancers could be avoided by wearing a sunscreen with SPF 15 every day.
UV exposure is the leading cause of all skin cancers, even nonmelanoma skin cancers like basal and squamous cell carcinomas. More than 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed with at least one nonmelanoma skin cancer every year, and about 90% of those are due to ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer can appear as:
The second most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which can appear as:
Both types of nonmelanoma skin cancer show up as crusty or oozing sores that don’t heal or that come back after healing.
The good news is that if caught early, these types of skin cancer are usually completely curable. The bad news is that in order to cure them, the lesion and surrounding tissues must be cut out.
Excisional treatment isn’t always disfiguring, but in the case of deeper carcinomas or those that cover large areas, treatment can leave noticeable scarring or even require reconstructive surgery. As with any surgical procedure, there’s always the risk of bleeding or infection too.
There’s great news though. If you’ve been diagnosed with basal or squamous cell carcinoma, we offer SRT™ 100, which is a new, FDA-approved breakthrough treatment that has an excellent cure rate without anesthesia, cutting, bleeding or pain.
SRT 100 is a revolutionary low dose radiation treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Known as Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT), the treatment involves delivering a precisely calculated dose of radiation that only goes as deep as the skin cancer does. The radiation kills the malignant cells.
For patients diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer in the Boca Raton region, Dr. Jeffrey Fromowitz and our team at Dermatology of Boca offer superficial radiation therapy to cure the cancer without pain or disfigurement.
Treatment takes place in our office and involves no downtime or lifestyle restrictions. Most patients report the treatment is pain free, and because it’s noninvasive, it eliminates the risk of bleeding and infection.
SRT 100 ensures optimal cosmetic results, as there’s no need to remove any tissue and no need for stitching or scarring. There’s also no requirement for reconstructive surgery after treatment, and the success rates match that of excisional surgery at 95%.
If you’ve been diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer but going under the knife with the potential risks and scars worries you, consider superficial radiation therapy instead. During your consultation with Dr. Fromowitz, he evaluates your individual case and history and talks you through the options.
To find out if SRT 100 is the best option for treating your nonmelanoma skin cancer, contact our office today or book online to schedule your appointment.
