All of us who enjoy the natural beauty of Northern Arizona are urged to get evaluated on a regular basis by a board-certified dermatologist.
SCC takes more than 15,000 lives each year in the United States – twice as many as melanoma – and the incidence is rising. Early, superficial detection is critical to avoid metastatic disease (cancer spread). Delayed diagnosis can lead to extensive operations, radiation and chemotherapy. The key is early detection.
Protective clothing, hats, broad-spectrum sunscreens and avoiding higher peak sun UV exposures help protect us from the carcinogenic effects of UV light. There are also medical therapies to prevent SCC: treating pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratosis), or using topical retinoids such as prescription Tretinoin. A dermatologist may recommend nicotinamide nutritional supplementation or oral medications for additional prevention, particularly for high-risk patients.
The most effective preventative intervention is to have a dermatologist or primary care provider examine the skin for early detection of pre-cancerous areas and SCC localized to the skin. During a skin exam, your dermatologist may recognize a high-risk lesion, often using a specialized tool called a dermatoscope to recognize the patterns of skin cancer in the lesion. If there is any suspicion of cancer, the lesion will be biopsied. Examination of the tissue under a microscope is the only way to diagnose skin cancer. Board-certified dermatologists and board-certified pathologists are the only physicians trained to evaluate skin cancer microscopically. A physician who has completed a dermatology residency is qualified to understand how the microscopic pathology translates to the skin manifestations visualized on exam. This allows the dermatologist to appropriately diagnose and treat the abnormality, whether it is a precancerous or cancerous lesion.
A board-certified dermatologist has completed medical school, internship and residency specializing in dermatology, passed board exams and keeps current with continuing medical education and assessments. Having your skin evaluated by a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD) will guarantee you are receiving care from a physician with the most rigorous training to diagnose and treat your skin, a physician who continues to train and keep abreast of the latest advances in skin disease. The dermatologist is trained in specialized skin exams, a pathology review and the surgical interventions to treat SCC if it arises.
If high-risk features are identified that indicate a possibility of regional or distant spread, the board-certified dermatologist will often order additional tests or imaging. A dermatologist may have the benefit of rigorous additional training in micrographic dermatologic surgery, or “Mohs surgery,” which is the standard of care for many SCCs. This surgical procedure produces the highest cure rates while sparing the healthy surrounding skin. Mohs surgery has revolutionized the cosmetic outcomes of dermatologic surgery for SCC, and is available in Flagstaff.
Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment can lead to recurrences and increased cancer size, which leads to the spread of SCC beyond the skin. All of us who enjoy the natural beauty of Northern Arizona are urged to get evaluated on a regular basis by a board-certified dermatologist. FBN
By Sara Risner-Rumohr, M.D.
Sara Risner-Rumohr, M.D., FAAD, is trained in medical dermatology, cutaneous oncology and cosmetic dermatology and treats patients of all ages with a broad range of skin conditions. She is board certified in dermatology and is a diplomate of the American Academy of Dermatology. She also has a Micrographic dermatologic surgery subspeciality certification. Dr. Risner-Rumohr relocated from Houston, Texas to Flagstaff in fall 2014, as she missed both her family and the Arizona landscape. Dr Risner-Rumohr grew up in Tucson and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona. She completed her medical education at Vanderbilt University, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr Risner-Rumohr then moved to Houston and completed a residency in dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. After residency, she joined a private practice group in the Houston Medical Center and was a consult staff physician for the Houston Methodist Hospital.
Northern Arizona Dermatology Center, PC 1490 N Turquoise Dr. Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-774-5074 ext 239