The risk for skin cancer actually increases as one ages, due to the fact that people have spent a lifetime getting more sun exposure. However, age is just one factor and there are many others that can contribute to a higher risk of skin cancer. One sure-fire sign of a high risk for any cancer is if a person has ever had some form of non-melanoma skin cancer in the first place. When you treat patients for conditions like basal cell carcinoma or even squamous cell carcinoma, they may not make the link between this type of non-agressive neoplasm and other more serious types of cancer. It’s important to make patients aware that once they have any type of non-melanoma skin issue, even if it is not life-threatening, it means that they need to be even more careful about the potential for other types of cancer as well.
The Link Between Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and Other Types of Cancer
You can educate your patients by helping them to know the risks involved by telling them the following facts as presented by Skincancer.org:
- Skin Cancer Is Very Common - There are about 3.5 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer that occur every year in the United States, according to skincancer.org.
- Non-Melanoma Cancer Cases on the Skin Have Increased 300 Percent Since 1994 - If this were any other disease, it would be labeled an epidemic.
- Non-Melanoma Cancer of the Skin Is Not Life-Threatening, but Dangerous If Left Untreated - This type of cancer is easily treated. However, catching it early is the key. Even if it is not fatal, in most cases, it does not mean it can’t grow aggressively causing disfigurement and making it more difficult to remove later.
- People with Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Are Twice as Likely to Get Other Types of Cancer - For women, that means they are more at risk for breast and lung cancer. For men, it can show up later as prostate cancer.
- Some Demographics Have More Risk - Fair-skinned people, red heads, and people with light eye colors tend to experience higher incidences of cancer of the skin.
- Self-Diagnosis Is Risky - If a patient is not sure if some mole or dark spot is non-melanoma cancer, it’s best to get it seen right away, especially if it appears to change shape or size. Patients who think they have non-melanoma and never get it checked out could end up making a fatal mistake. Melanomas spread quickly to other areas of the body, causing cancer within other tissues and organs unless it is caught early.
Offer Them Treatment Options for Early Detection and Removal
Once your patients understand the link between non-melanoma skin cancer and the potential for other types of cancer, you will want to make them aware of different treatment options to deal with the problem as soon as possible.
We at Bovie Medical know that even armed with the facts, many patients may delay treatment if it is not quick and effective. With the DERM 101&102 with Bipolar, you can offer your patients an in-office solution to remove skin tags and other types of lesions, including non-melanoma skin cancers. These high-frequency desiccators not only save the patient time in treatment, but can also be very cost-effective. This can be very important, especially for skin issues that keep recurring time and time again. Not only can you offer a simple solution to a nagging problem, but you will get to see your patients more often to keep a closer eye on their skin as they continue to age.
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