Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 4,000 and 5,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in Florida each year. For the treatment of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (non-melanoma skin cancers) as well as melanoma skin cancer, individuals in the Tampa Bay area turn to the experienced medical oncologists at Mease Countryside Hospital. We provide comprehensive screening and diagnostic testing services, as well as a wide range of advanced treatments for skin cancer.

Screening & Diagnostic Testing for Skin Cancer in Safety Harbor, Florida

Regularly examining your skin for new moles, moles or birthmarks that have changed in size, shape or color, or raised bumps is an important part of self-screening for cancer. Although about 80 percent of skin cancers first appear on the face, it is important to check your entire body about once a month. Any questionable skin abnormalities should be reported to your doctor so that he or she can perform a skin examination and mole mapping.

A skin biopsy at Mease Countryside Hospital may be necessary if your primary care physician or dermatologist determines that skin cancer may be the cause of your skin anomalies. Biopsies include:

• Lymph node biopsy
• Skin lesion biopsy
• Wide local excision (extraction of normal tissue near abnormal tissue for testing)

Skin Cancer Treatment at Mease Countryside Hospital

If you require skin cancer treatment, the expert team of board-certified physicians, medical oncologists, dermatologists and surgeons at Mease Countryside Hospital will guide you through the treatment process with care and compassion. We believe in educating patients about their condition so that they can make informed, confident decisions regarding the path that their skin cancer treatment will take. We offer chemotherapy, excisional surgery, lymph node dissection, skin grafting and other surgical and nonsurgical therapies for the treatment of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

For a referral to a board-certified oncologist, please call the BayCare Customer Service Center at (727) 462-7500 or find a specialist near you.