Skin Cancer/Melanoma
The skin is the body’s largest organ. Its job is to protect internal organs against damage, heat and infection. The skin is also the most exposed organ to sunlight and other forms of harmful ultraviolet rays. More than one million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancers will be diagnosed in the United States this year. These cancers can usually be cured.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. These cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds) triggers mutations that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. 76,690 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year. More than 6,280 men and 3,200 women will die from the disease this year. Melanoma is 10 times more common among caucasians than in African-Americans.
If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it almost always curable.
Types of Skin Cancer/Melanoma We Treat
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Non Melanoma Skin Cancers
- Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers
- Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans
Our Approach
The physicians at the University of Washington Department of Radiation Oncology work very closely with your entire care team to determine which option treatment is best for you. Because of our team’s deep collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, you can be assured that your treatment plan will be highly individualized and based on latest the advances in cancer research.
Please contact us if you are interested in a consultation to discuss the options that best fit you.
