Skin Cancers: Prevention, Screening & Treatment (Melanoma, Basal Cell & Squamous Cell Carcinomas)

Why It Matters

Early detection and preventive sun‑protection dramatically cut melanoma mortality and healthcare costs, making routine screening essential for at‑risk populations.

Key Takeaways

• Early detection of melanoma dramatically improves cure rates.
• Use ABCDE (or ABCDS) rule to spot suspicious lesions.
• Regular skin checks essential for high‑risk groups (fair skin, many moles, immunosuppressed).
• Broad‑spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen and sun avoidance reduce skin cancer risk.
• Mohs micrographic surgery offers highest cure rates for facial basal/squamous cancers.

Summary

The program, aired during Melanoma Awareness Month, reviewed skin‑cancer prevention, screening and treatment, focusing on the three most common types—basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Speakers highlighted rising incidence rates, especially among fair‑skinned individuals with extensive sun exposure, and underscored that early detection can turn a potentially lethal melanoma into a simple surgical cure.

Key insights included the ABCDE (now ABCDS) mnemonic for evaluating lesions, risk factors such as immunosuppression, tanning‑bed use, and genetic mutations like CDKN2A, and concrete prevention steps: daily broad‑spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, avoiding midday sun, and wearing protective clothing. The discussion also covered advanced treatment options, notably Mohs micrographic surgery, which offers maximal tissue preservation and cure rates exceeding 99% for facial basal and squamous cell cancers.

Notable examples featured Dr. Stein’s “ugly‑duckling” illustration of atypical moles and a case where total‑body photography revealed a changing lesion that proved malignant. Dr. Cresso emphasized Mohs surgery’s real‑time microscopic margin assessment, and the speakers cited statistics that over five million skin cancers are diagnosed annually, with one in five Americans developing one by age 70.

The implications are clear: widespread public education, routine skin examinations for high‑risk populations, and adherence to sun‑safety practices can dramatically lower morbidity and mortality while reducing costly advanced‑stage treatments. Healthcare providers are urged to integrate regular dermoscopic screening and consider Mohs surgery for cosmetically sensitive areas.

Original Description

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer globally, but advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment are improving outcomes for many patients. Learn the latest on prevention, screening, and treatment options for all skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma & melanoma. Perlmutter Cancer Center and NYU Langone Health experts discuss practical strategies for skin cancer prevention and early detection, including the importance of regular skin checks and screening, as well as treatment approaches such as Mohs surgery, surgery for melanoma, radiation therapy, and systemic therapies.

00:00 Opening Remarks

01:18: Prevention and Screening

11:54 Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancers

24:30 Surgical Management of Melanoma

41:00 Radiation Therapy in the Management of Skin Cancer

53:27 Systemic Therapy for Melanoma

01:05:05 Audience Questions & Answers

View Slides:

Prevention and Screening: https://image.e.nyulangone.org/lib/fe2f11717164077a761075/m/1/57f27302-c842-4d5c-aa54-19515c1a1201.pdf

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancers: https://image.e.nyulangone.org/lib/fe2f11717164077a761075/m/1/797490b3-e52a-42a6-b726-951a45fa7665.pdf

Surgical Management of Melanoma: https://image.e.nyulangone.org/lib/fe2f11717164077a761075/m/1/68a3d110-b9aa-4241-8d98-93fecfb8d8bf.pdf

Radiation Therapy in the Management of Skin Cancer: https://image.e.nyulangone.org/lib/fe2f11717164077a761075/m/1/36e4b5db-a4e8-4c56-b7a2-90b2239fa6fb.pdf

Systemic Therapy for Melanoma: https://image.e.nyulangone.org/lib/fe2f11717164077a761075/m/1/f3da2b9d-6969-4788-80aa-a3db8c2603e5.pdf

Schedule a skin cancer screening by making an appointment with a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/specialty/dermatologist?sort=availability&page=1

Learn more about the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/melanoma

Learn more about the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of basal & squamous cell skin cancers: https://nyulangone.org/conditions/basal-squamous-cell-skin-cancers

Learn more about Clinical Trials and Research Studies at NYU Langone Health: https://clinicaltrials.med.nyu.edu/

Learn more about Dr. David Polsky: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1205825247/david-polsky

Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Stein: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1700909603/jennifer-a-stein

Learn more about Dr. Maressa Criscito: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1346771094/maressa-c-criscito

Learn more about Dr. Erica Friedman: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1891969580/erica-b-friedman

Learn more about Dr. Benjamin Cooper: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1376834739/benjamin-cooper

Learn more about Dr. Janice Mehnert: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1962617472/janice-mehnert

To make an appointment at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, visit https://nyulangone.org/doctors.

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