Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. It may be problematic if it's undetected and untreated. If you notice a suspicious-looking skin lesion or are due for an annual skin cancer screening, turn to Patricia O'Connor, MD and the expert team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. They offer advanced and coordinated skin cancer treatments to prevent serious complications and give you the best result. If you've been diagnosed with skin cancer, call the Richmond-area office nearest you or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

What is skin cancer treatment?

Skin cancer treatment at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center uses the latest technology and techniques, including Mohs surgery, to remove cancerous tissue and prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body. The team's first priority is your skin health, but we also want you to be happy with the way you look.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

Signs and symptoms vary depending on the type of skin cancer, but in general, things to watch out for include:

  • A raised bump or scar where you don't recall an injury
  • Scabbing or bleeding lesions that seemingly don't heal
  • Waxy or pearly bumps, a 'pimple that won't go away'
  • Scaly or crusty lesions on sun-damaged skin
  • Red, pink, white, blue, or black spots
  • Firm nodules fixed to the surrounding skin
  • A mole that looks irregular or changes
  • Moles with dark specks
  • A mole with an irregular border
  • Itchy, burning, or painful lesions

The earlier you seek treatment for skin cancer, the better your expected outcome. That's why routine at-home and in-office skin cancer screenings are important. When in doubt, seek out a board-certified dermatologist!

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

When you visit the office of Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, you and your specialist will talk about your personal and family history of skin cancer and other risk factors for skin cancer like your history of blistering sun burns, tanning bed use, or immunosuppression.

They examine your skin, use a tool called a dermatoscope to more closely evaluate lesions, and ultimately use a procedure called a skin biopsy to confirm your diagnosis. This procedure involves the removing part or all of the concerning lesion for microscopic evaluation.

After this, the team will develop a treatment plan with you based on the type and degree of involvement of your skin cancer.

What are the different skin cancer treatments?

Your dermatologist customizes each skin cancer treatment based on the type of skin cancer you have and its severity. The three main types of skin cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Your dermatologist might recommend:

Mohs Surgery

The Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center team has a Mohs surgeon, Dr. William Gillen, MD, in the office. During Mohs surgery, your doctor numbs the skin and removes your cancer and has the ability to immediately evaluate the edges or 'margins' microscopically. If there is any cancer left at the margin, he will take another layer only in that specific spot using a map of the tumor. This layered approach will repeat until all abnormal cells are gone. Once the 'clearance' of the entire margin has been achieved, the defect created by the removed tissue will be repaired in a way to achieve the most cosmetically pleasing result.

Excision

In an excision, your dermatologist numbs the area and, using a scalpel, cuts the skin down to the subcutaneous layer of fat, and removes the tumor along with a standard margin of normal-appearing skin. This margin has been determined to ensure high cure rates while keeping in mind the preservation of tissue. The defect caused by this skin removal will then be closed with stitches.

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

During curettage and electrodesiccation, your doctor numbs your skin and removes the lesion or any residual cancer after a biopsy using a circular blade called a curette. They then apply an electric needle to the area to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. This technique does not require a complicated repair or stitches.

Additional Treatments

Occasionally, superficial skin cancers can be treated with less invasive techniques like topical creams or light therapy (photodynamic therapy). Depending on your case, a combination of treatment options may be used in your treatment plan.

For more advanced stages of skin cancer, you may require an interdisciplinary approach with other physicians joining your treatment team. Drs. Gillen and O'Connor are accustomed to working with other physicians to coordinate care for your best outcome. Don't let cancerous lesions develop into serious health complications. Schedule a routine skin cancer screening exam with Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by phone, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

How can we help

Services

Service Offered: Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and can be dangerous if it's left untreated. Routine skin cancer screenings with one of our expert team members at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center located in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, ensure early detection and treatment to prevent complications. Call our office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Mohs Surgery
Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery is a very safe and effective outpatient surgical procedure for removing certain types of skin cancer. This technique focuses on the complete removal of the skin cancer with a cure rate as high as 98-99% depending on the cancer type, size, and location. Our Mohs surgeons, William Gillen and Shields Callahan, MD at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center are fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons located in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. Using a microscope to examine the margins, they can be very precise in determining when the cancer has been removed, thus preserving normal surrounding tissues and allowing the smallest possible surgical wound.

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Service Offered: Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common skin cancer typically on sun-exposed skin that can arise from the pre-cancers, actinic keratoses. Seeking treatment early for any unusual, painful, or non-healing site can prevent serious complications associated with skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, Patricia O’Connor, MD, and their team diagnose and treat squamous cell carcinoma by removing skin lesions with surgical techniques, including Mohs surgery, or other more conservative procedures, if appropriate. Call the nearest Richmond-area office today, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, and Patricia O’Connor, MD, offer treatment for this type of cancer that usually appears as a bump or pinkish patch of skin. If you suspect you have basal cell carcinoma or any form of skin cancer, contact the office right away to set up an appointment. Call either Richmond-area office to speak with a team member or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Melanoma
Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that kills thousands of people each year. William Gillen, MD, Patricia O'Connor, MD, and the team of professionals at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, are committed to finding and diagnosing melanoma at its earliest stages which is crucial for treatment. In these early stages, treatment can be done in our office. When necessary, our skilled providers are experienced in developing interdisciplinary treatment plans. Above all, they are dedicated to educating their patients on skin cancer prevention. Schedule your skin cancer screening today by calling the nearest Richmond-area office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Skin Disorders
Skin Disorders

Skin disorders can look unsightly, be embarrassing, or in some cases, indicate skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, Patricia O’Connor, MD, and their experienced team treat lumps, bumps, and rashes in patients of all ages. Call either Richmond-area office to schedule an appointment or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Injectables
Injectables

If you want to rejuvenate your appearance by minimizing facial wrinkles and fine lines, then injectables may be right for you. Patricia O'Connor, MD, and Eliza Hester PA-C at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center provide high-quality injectables and customized plans for their patients in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. Schedule an injectables consultation today by calling either Richmond-area office, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Psoriasis
Psoriasis

Roughly 7.4 million people in the United States are bothered by psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the skin, joints, and less commonly the cardiovascular system. If you have psoriasis, schedule a visit with a member of our general dermatology team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. A group of well-versed providers in the variety of treatment options available for psoriasis and will develop a plan to help you find relief from your condition. Booking an appointment is easy. Simply call the nearest Richmond-area office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Eczema
Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that causes reddened and scaling skin and uncomfortable itching. Occasionally, this broken skin can become infected leading to pain and oozing. Our team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, can help you manage eczematous conditions so you can live as normal and healthy of a life as possible and prevent the flares and infections associated with a broken skin barrier. Call either of the Richmond-area offices today to schedule your appointment and get relief from symptoms or, send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center