We Treat
Melanoma and Non-melanoma Skin Cancers
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an estimated 1 in 5 Americans diagnosed in their lifetime. It begins when cells in the outermost layer of the skin grow uncontrollably, often due to DNA damage from too much sun exposure. Over time, these damaged cells can develop into cancer.
At SCRI Oncology Partners in Nashville, our experienced skin cancer team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, including rare subtypes of melanoma. We provide patients with personalized skin cancer treatment plans, providing access to emerging therapies through clinical trials. Our team is here to help you through each step in your cancer journey.
Meet Our Skin Cancer Doctors
What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?
Getting familiar with your skin and any changes you notice is one of the best ways to identify skin cancer at an early stage.
Non-melanoma skin cancers can appear in a few different ways.
- Basal cell carcinoma may appear like an open sore, a red patch, a pink growth, a shiny bump, or a scar
- Squamous cell carcinoma may present as a scaly red patch, an open sore, a wart, or an elevated growth with a central depression
These spots typically develop on areas of the skin that receive frequent sun exposure, such as the face, neck, ears, and hands.
Melanoma often appears as:
- Changes in the size, shape, or color of existing moles
- Refer to the acronym ABCDE
- A -Asymmetry between sides,
- B – Irregular border
- C – Variation in color across the mole
- D – Diameter >5mm
- E – A lesion that is evolving or changing
The spots can appear anywhere on the body. It can appear in areas that don’t get sun exposure, such as the bottom of the feet or palms of your hands.
Regularly checking your skin can help you notice any unusual changes. If anything looks suspicious, it’s important to make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a dermatologist right away. The earlier skin cancer is identified and diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
If you have a personal or family history of melanoma, a history of blistering sunburns, a history or current use of tanning beds, or have a large number of moles on your body, it’s advisable to see a dermatologist for an annual full-body skin cancer screening. Even if you don’t have any of these risk factors, scheduling annual screening appointments can help with the early detection of skin cancer.
During a skin cancer screening, the dermatologist will thoroughly examine your skin from head to toe. If any spots appear cancerous or precancerous, they will likely perform a biopsy for further evaluation.
Types
Staging
Treatment
Clinical Trials
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
Typically, skin cancer is diagnosed by a dermatologist or primary care provider (PCP) after removing a suspicious spot on the skin. Looking at the cells under a microscope allows a pathologist to see whether cancer cells are present. This is the only definitive method for diagnosing skin cancer.
Skin biopsies are usually performed in the provider’s office or as an outpatient procedure in a clinic or a hospital under local anesthesia.
In some cases, removing the spot for biopsy may be the only treatment needed. However, if cancer cells are confirmed, the provider may refer you to an oncologist for additional treatment.
Types of skin cancer
Skin cancer is categorized into two main types: non-melanoma and melanoma. Identifying the specific type is important, as it influences the recommended treatment approach.
Non-melanoma skin cancers
The two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. When found early, most non-melanoma skin cancers require only surgery. However, radiation and medications are offered when the cancer appears to be growing aggressively, has spread to lymph nodes, or can’t be operated on.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that affects the cells in our skin that produce melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color. While very rare, accounting for about 1% of all skin cancer diagnoses, it’s the most aggressive type.
Melanoma can develop in other areas of the body, such as the eye (referred to as uveal, choroidal, or conjunctival melanoma), and in mucous membranes, such as the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts or the sinuses (known as mucosal melanoma). Additionally, it can appear on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or fingers and toes, which is called acral melanoma.
The SCRI Oncology Partners team is experienced in caring for patients with these less common types of melanoma and can offer clinical trials when one is available for your type of cancer. If you need more information, please contact us.
Other rare skin cancers
Staging skin cancer
Cancer staging refers to the process of determining the extent of cancer in the body, including the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other areas. Understanding the stage of cancer is crucial for doctors, as it helps them assess the severity of the disease, plan the most effective treatment, and identify suitable clinical trials that could serve as potential treatment options.
Non-melanoma staging
Melanoma staging
How is skin cancer treated?
The treatment for skin cancer varies depending on its stage and type.
Localized Therapies
Surgery
Surgery is often the primary treatment for both non-melanoma skin cancers and melanoma. Various surgical techniques may be used, including wide local excision (WLE), Mohs surgery, and electrodesiccation and curettage. After surgery, a skin graft may be necessary to close the wound. Most surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office. If surgery is not possible due to the lesion’s location, other treatments will be used to destroy the cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be recommended for skin cancer, especially in areas where surgery could be complicated or could leave significant scarring, such as on the eyelids, ears, top of the head, or nose. It can also be used post-surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
Topical Chemotherapy
For non-melanoma skin cancers, topical chemotherapy is often applied directly to the skin as a cream or lotion.
Systemic Treatments for Skin Cancer
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a common treatment approach for melanoma. These treatments include interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2), which can slow tumor growth and boost the immune response by enhancing lymphocyte activity. Additionally, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, a protein produced by white blood cells, is often used alongside other melanoma treatments to kill cancer cells.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy focuses on specific cancer cells with specific genetic changes. The choice of targeted therapies depends on the type of skin cancer. For melanoma, common targeted therapies include BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and C-KIT inhibitors. In cases of basal cell carcinoma, treatments known as Hedgehog pathway inhibitors may be used.
Chemotherapy
For melanoma, chemotherapy is administered through an IV to target cancer cells throughout the body. In some cases, chemotherapy may be delivered directly to the affected area, known as regional chemotherapy.
SCRI Oncology Partners offers these treatments, and new therapies being studied in clinical trials at our cancer center in Nashville.
Skin cancer clinical trials in Nashville
Clinical trials are essential for developing future treatment options. At SCRI Oncology Partners, our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research, enables us to provide patients in the greater Nashville area with access to advanced, innovative therapies that can improve outcomes.
If you are looking for a local oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee, and are interested in participating in a melanoma or skin cancer clinical trial, the first step is to talk to our healthcare team.
We’re here when you need us
If you were recently diagnosed or would like a second opinion, request an appointment with one of our experienced cancer doctors right here in Nashville.
We’re here when you need us
If you were recently diagnosed or would like a second opinion, request an appointment with one of our experienced cancer doctors right here in Nashville.
We’re here when you need us
If you were recently diagnosed or would like a second opinion, request an appointment with one of our experienced cancer doctors right here in Nashville.