Early detection of skin cancer often results in the eradication of any evidence of cancer. Jill Waibel, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute, performs skin cancer screening on people living in and around Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Kendall, FL, to detect and remove skin cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body.
What is a Skin Cancer Screening?
A skin cancer screening is the process of evaluating a specific mark or lesion that is suspected of containing cancer cells.
What Happens During a Skin Cancer Screening?
During a screening, the mark is biopsied to check for cancer, and a full body skin exam may also be performed at the same time. A biopsy is the removal of a small sample of skin that is used to confirm diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment. Our dermatologists send your biopsy to a dermatopathologist or pathologists who examines the sample under a microscope to render a diagnosis. With this knowledge, your dermatologist can recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Skin cancer screenings typically take about an hour to complete. The area in which the biopsy is performed may be closed with sutures and bandaged to heal.
What Should I Expect After a Skin Cancer Screening?
Following a skin cancer screening and biopsy, your dermatologist checks any incisions about a week following the procedure. When the results from the biopsy are returned, we schedule a consultation to discuss the results and, if necessary, our recommended course of treatment. If the results are negative, we schedule follow up appointments for full body skin exams to ensure your skin stays cancer free.
