Aging & Health A to Z
Skin Cancer
Diagnosis & Tests
Your general healthcare professional or dermatologist (a doctor with specialty training in skin diseases) will check for any unusual patches or lesions on your skin at your annual check-up. He or she will examine any suspicious areas that you have noticed. You will also be asked about:
- When you first noticed the skin abnormality
- Any changes that you have noticed
- If you feel any pain, itching, tenderness.
- Personal history of sunburns and sun exposure
- Family history of skin cancer.
Sometimes a small skin sample, called a biopsy, will be taken after the area has been numbed or frozen with an injection of local anesthetic. The sample may be removed with a small scalpel, needle, or punch tool, or gently shaved off. The sample will be checked under a microscope by a pathologist to determine whether abnormal cells are present. Usually, there is minimal or no scarring, but check with your healthcare professional or dermatologist if you are concerned.
If the sample shows that there are cancer cells present, your healthcare professional may send you for other tests such as lymph node biopsy and imaging tests. The dermatologist will establish a “stage” for your tumor, based on its size, spread, cell type, depth, and how quickly the cells are dividing. The type of cell will also determine which treatment your oncologist (cancer specialist) or dermatologist recommends for you.
Updated: March 2012
Posted: March 2012