The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness
2924 Siskiyou Blvd, Suite 200
Medford, OR 97504
Phone: (541) 200-2777
Fax: (541) 214-2575
Tuesday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The Annex at the Clinic
2937 Siskiyou Blvd, Suite 1
Medford, OR 97504
Phone: (541) 200-2777
Fax: (541) 214-2575
Tuesday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Cancer is never a word to be taken lightly, and skin cancer occurs more often than all other cancers combined. Fortunately, there are more effective treatments today than ever.
Patients from Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, and Northern California can find peace of mind with skin cancer diagnosis and treatment at The Center for Dermatology & Wellness. From annual screenings to Mohs surgery, our board-certified dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating skin cancer so you can enjoy healthy skin from head to toe.
Basal cell is the single most common cancer in the U.S., with over 3.5 million cases occurring each year. Many people visit their dermatology provider after developing a new skin-colored or shiny bump, or a pimple that won’t go away. Often, people will also describe “easy bleeding” or “it never heals.” In advanced stages, a basal cell lesion will begin to eat away at the skin (ulcerate) as it extends to the deeper skin structures.
Squamous cell cancer is classically described as a rough, red, scaly patch that never heals. Some people describe squamous cell lesions as being tender. While basal cell and squamous cell cancers are rarely deadly, they can invade local skin and deeper tissues, resulting in significant disfigurement or, typically in cases of squamous cell, spread to other regions when left untreated for many years.
Melanoma is far less common than basal and squamous cell cancers, but it may be deadly. Over the last 20 years, the incidence of melanoma has risen dramatically, particularly in women younger than 40. When melanoma is caught in the early stages, the cure rate approaches 100%. Sadly, when melanoma is not detected, once it has already spread from the skin (metastasized), the results can be serious.
Dermatology is both a science and an art; we customize your treatment recommendations based on the cancer type, location, functionality of the treatment (how a treatment affects you), and its cosmetic outcome (how it will look).
The first step in your treatment will often be a biopsy of your concern to determine whether it is cancerous and which types of cells it contains. For non-melanoma skin cancers, your dermatologist can often treat these with a simple excision.
For cancers that present a greater risk, or that occur in cosmetically or functionally sensitive areas (such as near an eye or over the nose), Mohs micrographic surgery has been the treatment of choice recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. This surgery removes cells layer by layer to eliminate the cancer while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
GentleCure IG-SRT is a new, groundbreaking nonsurgical option for treating certain types of skin cancer. This radiation-based therapy boasts shorter treatment sessions with no downtime, an excellent cure rate, and superior cosmetic results. Your dermatologist can advise if you’re a good candidate for this treatment.
Our providers firmly believe in the importance of avid sun protection, self-examinations, and an annual skin cancer screening by a dermatology provider. Our providers perform thorough total body skin exams (TBSE) utilizing dermoscopy, and arm our patients with information to best protect themselves and lower their melanoma risk factors.
Often, skin cancer screenings let us catch and treat pre-cancerous lesions, often with minimally invasive photodynamic therapy (PDT), before they evolve into greater concerns.
Remember: Sunlight damages the skin. Over time, this damage leads to premature sagging, wrinkling, dulling, freckling, and increased roughness. Think of leather left too long in the sun; It dries, cracks, and deforms, losing its smooth texture and becoming brittle. Skin tags, pre-cancers, and even skin cancer are directly and proportionally connected to cumulative sun exposure over the course of your life. Protecting your skin now means enjoying happy, healthy skin for years to come.
If you live in the Medford, OR, area and would like to learn more about your best skin cancer treatment options, please book online or call (541) 200-2777. Men and women visit our skin cancer specialists from Ashland, throughout Southern Oregon, and Northern California.
