Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer, but when detected and treated early, it has excellent cure rates with minimal impact on quality of life. At Idaho Skin Surgery Center in Boise and Fruitland, Idaho, comprehensive skin cancer care encompasses accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection, and ongoing surveillance. Understanding their options helps patients approach their care with confidence rather than anxiety, so Dr. Jared Scott and our team want patients to know what they’re up against and treat it with the appropriate amount of seriousness.
Types of Skin Cancer and Treatment Considerations
Different forms of skin cancer require distinct treatment approaches based on their growth patterns and risk profiles. Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type, rarely metastasizes but can cause local tissue damage if neglected. Squamous cell carcinoma, while still highly treatable, requires careful attention to its slightly higher risk of spreading, particularly in certain anatomic locations or in immunocompromised people. Melanoma, though less common, is the most serious threat, with treatment decisions strongly influenced by the tumor's depth and other specific characteristics.
For each type, treatment selection considers multiple factors, including the cancer's location, size, microscopic pattern, and patient-specific considerations such as age, overall health, and personal preferences. This individualized approach helps ensure appropriate care at Dr. Scott’s Boise and Fruitland, Idaho, offices without unnecessary interventions.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery: Precision in Skin Cancer Removal
For many skin cancers, particularly those in cosmetically and functionally sensitive areas like the face, Mohs micrographic surgery provides unparalleled precision and tissue preservation. This specialized technique removes the cancer layer by layer, with immediate microscopic examination of the removed tissue until all cancer cells are eliminated. This approach offers the highest cure rates while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tissue, leading to better cosmetic and functional outcomes.
The procedure typically completes in a single day, with reconstruction of the surgical area performed once the cancer has been completely removed. This immediate confirmation of complete removal provides significant peace of mind while optimizing aesthetic results.
Additional Treatment Modalities
For appropriate cases, other potential treatments at Idaho Skin Surgery Center include standard surgical excision, electrodesiccation and curettage (a scraping and burning technique for certain superficial cancers), topical medications for pre-cancers and very superficial cancers, or radiation therapy when surgery isn't feasible. Systemic treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies, play important roles in managing advanced cases, particularly for melanoma.
Each treatment modality has specific advantages and considerations, with selection guided by both medical factors and patient preferences. This collaborative decision-making ensures treatments align with both clinical needs and quality of life priorities.
Skin cancers come in several forms, all requiring expert diagnosis and treatment. The experienced dermatology providers at Idaho Skin Surgery Center (ISSC) offer patient-centered, evidence-based treatment for skin cancer and skin screenings. With offices in Fruitland and Boise, Idaho, we offer treatments that eliminate cancerous cells while keeping scarring to a minimum. To benefit from the ISSC team’s expertise, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is an extremely common form of cancer in which cells in one of your skin layers start to multiply uncontrollably. The team at ISSC offers skin cancer screenings. If they diagnose skin cancer during your screening, you might require medical and/or surgical treatment. In most cases, surgery is the most effective solution. The main types of skin cancer are:
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. These cancers develop in the basal cells, part of the deepest layer of your epidermis (outer skin).
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
SCC occurs less often than BCC but tend to grow faster are maybe more serious. They develop in skin cells called keratinocytes in your epidermis.
Melanoma
Melanomas affect the melanocyte cells that produce melanin, which gives your skin its color. When compared to BCC and SCC, they are the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
The team at ISSC offers skin cancer screenings. If they diagnose skin cancer during your screening, you might require medical and/or surgical treatment. In most cases, surgery is the most effective solution.
Why do I need skin screenings?
It’s important to get professional skin cancer screenings from the team at ISSC regardless of whether or not you’ve noticed an unusual blemish. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, so checking yourself regularly helps ensure that you will catch cancerous spots in their early stages.
When it comes to any type of cancer, starting treatment at an early stage gives you the best chance at remission. Skin cancer screenings ensure that you’re ahead of the curve with your skin’s health, especially if any risk factors apply to you.
When should I come in for a skin screening?
Your dermatology provider will counsel with you as to how often you should come to ISSC for screenings, depending on your risk factors. It’s also good practice to check your own skin to the best of your ability about once per month and report anything unusual to your dermatologist.
It may help you to become familiar with the pattern of your own moles and freckles, including those in awkward places like in your armpit or underneath your breast.
What kind of surgery might skin cancer require?
The type of surgery your ISSC provider uses for skin cancer depends on the type of cancer, its location, and its size. Options include:
Excision
Excision involves numbing your skin with a local anesthetic and cutting out the skin cancer. Your provider also removes some of the surrounding skin, referred to as the "margin". Excisions are a common form of skin cancer surgery, but it is most commonly done where there is enough extra adjacent skin such as the trunk or extremities.
Electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C)
ED&C uses a long, slim instrument (curette) with a sharp, looped edge. Since some skin cancer types are superficial, your ISSC provider is able to draw the curette over the cancer to remove it, then applies an electrode to kill the remaining cancer cells.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS)
MMS uses advanced techniques to remove cancerous tissue while minimizing the removal of healthy skin. It’s valuable because Mohs surgery causes minimal scarring in addition to being highly effective in treating skin cancer.
Your fellowship-trained trained and board-certified Mohs surgeon removes thin layers of skin and examines each under a microscope before taking another layer, if necessary. Microscopic examination of each layer ensures that your surgeon only takes cancerous tissue.
What other skin cancer treatment might I need?
Depending on the type and location of your skin cancer, medications like creams or pills can also be used, sometimes on their own or in conjunciton with surgical options. Some common medications are:
- fluorouracil
- imiquimod
- vismodegib
Dermatologists often use topical medications (creams, lotions) to treat actinic keratosis — an abnormal patch of skin that could develop into cancer. Thin, low-risk BCC or SCC may also benefit from fluorouracil or imiquimod.
Visit Us for Comprehensive Skin Cancer Treatment
Complete skin cancer care goes beyond the initial treatment to include appropriate follow-up surveillance, management of the treated area, and prevention of future skin cancers. Regular skin examinations, typically recommended every 3-12 months depending on individual risk factors, allow for early detection of any new or recurrent cancers.
Our comprehensive approach at Idaho Skin Surgery Center combines advanced treatment techniques with education about sun protection and skin self-examination, empowering patients to actively participate in maintaining their skin health. To schedule your skin cancer treatment with Dr. Jared Scott and our team, call our office in Boise, Idaho, at (208) 433-1114 or our Fruitland office at (208) 452-7450.
