Skin cancer rates in the United States are skyrocketing, partly due to aging baby boomers who sunned themselves unprotected for much of their youth and to young people looking to emulate celebrities. Between 1992 and 2006 skin cancer rates increased 77% and are increasing at a rate of 4.2% per year.
Environment and heredity are the two leading causes of skin cancer. While individuals cannot do anything about genetics, they can control exposure to the harmful UV rays that accumulate damage over time.
“While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting Americans today, the good news is that it is usually very curable if it’s found and treated early. As a plastic surgeon in NJ, I can minimize scarring while effectively treating the affected area,” explained Dr. Parker.
Common skin cancers are divided into three categories, basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Both basal cell and squamous cell cancers are generally very curable if caught early. Melanoma is potentially much more serious, but also very treatable if caught early. Melanomas, if left untreated, can grow quickly and invade other tissues and organs causing damage and death.
Since melanoma is so serious and can grow quite quickly patients are often faced with having relatively large areas of skin removed. In addition to the stress of a melanoma diagnosis, patients often fear what they will look like following the procedure. Dr. Parker is a highly skilled and experienced New Jersey plastic surgeon who can not only remove the affected area but repair the treated area to minimize visible scarring.
“I had Basal Cancer removed from my face. I was nervous about what the scar would look like. I am so delighted that there was never a scar. People don’t realize that I’ve had anything done. I am cancer free in that area, I don’t have a bad scar and it’s not red.” – Pat M., Parker Center skin cancer patient
The media promotes a sun kissed complexion as the ideal which increases the risk of skin cancer for the younger generation. Since any tanning (indoor or outdoor) is considered skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and is considered a primary risk factor, education has become a major focus of the American Academy of Dermatology.
All surgery performed by Dr. Parker are done in the Parker Center’s on-site fully certified ambulatory surgical facility, Surgiplex, LLC.
Skin protection and skin cancer is serious and everyone needs to make and keep a resolution to make skin protection a part of their everyday routine in 2012.
If you are interested in learning more about skin cancer prevention or New Jersey plastic surgery, please contact the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery at 201.967.1212 or http://www.parkercenter.net.
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