What to Expect During a Skin Cancer Screening: A Guide for Patients

Applegarth Dermatology with Dr. William Applegarth can help you with various treatment options to minimize your risk of various conditions. For example, we can screen for skin cancer in La Porte and Valparaiso, IN, and make it easier for you to identify your therapeutic options. If you’re not sure what to expect, here’s a look at what happens during your in-depth examination.

A Comprehensive Inspection

It’s essential to be prepared for a complete body examination, from head to toe. You’ll have to be nude during your exam, which we know can be scary. We’ll pair you with a skilled team of assistants who will make you comfortable and avoid complete nudity when possible.

For instance, we put you in a robe that decreases your discomfort but also makes it easier for us to examine you. Then, we’ll look from the tops of your scalp to the bottoms of your feet and try to find anything that looks suspicious. We’ll use a light and magnifying glasses. 

What We Try to Find

At Applegarth Dermatology, Dr. Applegarth looks for specific signs of skin cancer in La Porte and Valparaiso, IN residents. We look for three types of cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. They all look a little different. 

Symptoms we try to find include:

• Discoloration (i.e., did your skin change tone unexpectedly, and is it spreading?)
• Moles (i.e., did you develop new moles, or are your current ones getting more prominent?)
• Pain (i.e., is it painful to touch your moles, and when you do, does that pain spread elsewhere?)
• Changes in appearance (i.e., have you spotted any new growths on your skin beyond moles?)

If we spot any issues that might be cancer, we’ll sit down with you and talk about your treatment options. The Big C is a scary word, and skin types are devastating. However, they’re also among the easiest to spot, meaning we can get in quickly and help you with therapies like:

• Surgical excision (especially if the cancer is fairly small and easy to remove)
• Radiation therapy (which kills the cancer cells and stops them from spreading further)
• Chemotherapy (including various chemicals that can kill the cancer cells)
• Topical therapies (these are applied directly to your skin to help manage the cancer)

Support is Available For You

If you’re worried about potential melanoma or think a mole looks weird, call our Applegarth Dermatology crew for help. Dr. Applegarth will screen you for skin cancer in La Porte and Valparaiso, IN, and ensure you get the needed help. Call (219) 548-0360 for our Valparaiso office or (219) 362-0161 for our La Porte office.