The Importance of Annual Skin Cancer Screenings for People at High Risk

The American Cancer Society states that skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the U.S., with around 5.4 million people being diagnosed with squamous or basal cell carcinoma yearly. That's why Dr. Brett Matheson and Dr. Christopher Sartori of Skin Cancer & Dermatology Center, with locations in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Trinidad, CO, stress the importance of routine skin cancer screening, especially for high-risk individuals. 

Who's High Risk 

Though anyone can get this cancer, you're more likely to if you have a lighter skin tone. You also have a greater chance if you have blue or green eyes or red or blonde hair because you naturally produce less melanin than somebody who has dark eyes and/or dark hair. 

How your skin reacts to the sun also influences your vulnerability; people who burn or freckle easily are more prone. Typically, people with certain types of moles and many of these skin spots are more susceptible.

Your likelihood of skin cancer rises if you have a family history of it. Most people who develop melanoma or another form are over 40. Males tend to experience it more than females, as do those who spend a great deal of time outdoors in the sun, such as construction workers or tree removal specialists. 

Why Get Screened 

While both of our doctors recommend you check yourself for irregular moles or other skin blemishes, a self-exam isn't nearly as accurate as a skin cancer screening at one of our offices, located in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Trinidad, CO.

You may miss a cancerous mole because the changes are subtle, and some areas of your body are easy to assess for potential malignancies.

Through screening, one of our specialists can check you thoroughly and catch cancerous spots before they can grow and spread. Keep in mind that early detection leads to the best prognosis, particularly with melanoma — a cancer that's known to spread internally.

The treatment for a malignant mole is much less intense when we catch it early. For instance, you have more surgery options and will be able to remove less skin whenever the cancer is just starting. Moreover, catching melanoma when it's still localized to the skin can mean you won't need chemo, immunotherapy, or radiation.

A routine skin cancer screening with Dr. Matheson or Dr. Sarton of Skin Cancer & Dermatology Center in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Trinidad, CO, is beneficial to everyone, particularly those at high risk.

Call us for an appointment at:

Colorado Springs - 719-574-0310

Pueblo - 719-564-5544

Trinidad - 800-290-2478