Your Skin Cancer Treatment Myrtle Beach Options

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA, with one in five people likely to develop some kind of skin cancer during their lifetime. Skin cancer is a result of cumulative sun damage and is most commonly found in patients over age 40, but we see patients as young as their 20’s with skin cancer. Diagnosis requires a dermatology professional, but as a general rule of thumb we look for “ugly ducklings”. Each person tends to have a pattern to their freckles and moles, and any new growth that doesn’t fit that pattern may be concerning for cancer. Skin cancer treatment Myrtle Beach providers have the training and expertise to spot those spots for concern.

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, prompt treatment is very important. A dermatology provider can effectively treat skin cancer with few side effects when caught early. Neglected cancers can be significantly more complicated to treat, and unfortunately may be disfiguring or even result in death. At Waccamaw Dermatology, we encourage you to seek the best skin cancer treatment South Carolina has to offer.

Skin Cancer Treatment Myrtle Beach

The three most common skin cancer forms are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Our experienced dermatologists will carefully examine your skin and they may consider a skin biopsy if a suspicious lesion is found. A skin biopsy is a quick, low risk procedure which involves local numbing of your skin to sample the growth. Our lab then processes and examines the skin specimen to confirm diagnosis. If the growth is cancerous, we will follow up with you to discuss the best treatment option. Depending on the tumor it may include a topical cream, a simple excision, Mohs micrographic surgery or Superficial Radiation Therapy.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery is an effective and safe procedure for treating many different skin cancers. Cancers by definition have “roots”, and in order to cure the cancer all of the roots must be removed. Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard for tracking and removing those cancer roots; it is usually used in cosmetically sensitive areas like the face. The Mohs surgeon removes the cancerous tissue millimeter by millimeter and then examines it under a microscope to confirm that the area is cancer-free. 

Once the cancer is removed your surgeon will discuss the best way to approach healing. Each person is unique, but in general there are 4 ways to reconstruct or repair a wound:

1. No stitching (natural healing)
2. Stitching skin in a straight line (Primary Closure)
3. Stitching skin in a geometric pattern to pull nearby skin into the wound (Skin Flap)
4. Stitching tissue from a distant area to patch the wound (Skin Graft)

Ultimately, you will have a discussion with your doctor about the risks and benefits for your particular situation. Our goal is always fast healing with minimal scar.

Image Guided, Superficial Radiation Therapy

Our providers use Superficial Radiation Therapy as a non-invasive procedure to treat basal and squamous cell cancers as well as keloids. This cutting edge technology first uses high frequency ultrasound to see into the skin and generate an image of the tumor. Next, a superficial radiation beam destroys the cancer without any cutting or stitching. Image guided SRT is a highly effective, painless treatment option. For optimal results, we do not deliver the radiation dose in a single treatment, but instead in multiple treatments over the course of several weeks. The visits are quick and the timing is flexible, and many patients find this treatment option preferable to needles and surgery. 

Waccamaw Dermatology

Patients consider Waccamaw Dermatology the premier skin cancer treatment center in Myrtle Beach. Dr. Coakley and Dr. Xiong are the only ACMS fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons in the Grand Strand, and they are ready to help cure your cancer with the best cosmetic result. For more information about our cancer treatments or to book a skin exam, please make an appointment with us today. Active action against skin cancer is the fastest way to recovery; don’t wait to act.