Skin Cancer

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Actinic Keratosis with 5-FU? Is that best?

Actinic keratosis is a pre-malignant condition that, if untreated, can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. In most cases, this is caused by chronic, repeated Sun-exposure. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU or Efudex or Carac) is an old treatment for actinic keratosis that has been used for decades, but is it best? In short, yes if used correctly. What…

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Melanoma and Fish Consumption

Many of you have read the news regarding fish intake and the risk of developing Melanoma. First and foremost, most of you do not have to alter your dietary habits. For most, eating fish will not affect one’s risk for developing melanoma. For those with a personal history of melanoma, especially those whom have had…

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What is Mohs’ Surgery? Facts, Overview, and Information

Mohs’ surgery is a treatment that is commonly used for the most common types of skin cancer. It is a specialized method of tumor removal, processing, and evaluation under the microscope. It is the only treatment that evaluates all of the margins and therefore has the highest cure rate of any treatment available for common,…

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RSB Dermatology

Photodynamic Therapy: Is it worth the hype?

It seems like every Dermatologist is recommending photodynamic therapy (PDT) to their patients these days. Why the sudden explosion with this treatment? Is it really that good? Is it really the best? Is it really what we should be recommending to our patients? The simple answer is yes and no. Photodynamic therapy has been around…

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RSB Dermatology

Vitamin reduces the risk of skin cancer

The prevention of the two most common types of skin cancer and pre-cancers is possible by taking an inexpensive, widely available, oral pill twice daily. Vitamin B3 , a supplement called nicotinamide, cut the rate of new squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma by 23% among patients who were at high risk for the development of…

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RSB Dermatology

BLACK SALVE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SKIN CANCER

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74% of persons using black salve were not aware of the possible side effects of the remedy, including infection, scarring, and disfigurement. Black salve can destroy the top layer of skin, but most cancers lie beneath this layer and continue to grow….

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RSB Dermatology

NEW “LASER” TO TREAT SKIN CANCER

Every day a patient contacts me as a nearby Dermatology group is running a television advertisement of a new treatment for skin cancer that does not require surgery. Interestingly, every patient says it is a laser.  Well, this is not the case. This “new” treatment is not new at all. It is electron beam treatment,…

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RSB Dermatology

THERE IS NO REASON TO RE-EXCISE A MODERATELY-ATYPICAL NEVUS

To those who are patients and those who follow my posts, you know that I am adamant that there has been an over-treatment of these atypical nevi for decades. In short, the data just does not support the removal of these lesions–PERIOD! Another study was just completed at Emory University (Atlanta) and Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical…

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RSB Dermatology

FDA APPROVES FIRST TREATMENT FOR METASTATIC MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to Bavencio (avelumab) for the treatment of  metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)–one of the most deadly skin cancers. Prior to this, there have been no FDA-approved treatment for this deadly cancer.

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RSB Dermatology

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic Therapy Photodynamic therapy, or “PDT”, is a therapy in which a chemical is applied to the skin and left to dry for some time and the skin is then exposed to a light source. PDT is used to treat many condition, including wet age-related macular degeneration, pre-cancers of the skin (actinic keratosis), basal cell…

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