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Skin cancer is the most common cancer in humans. Early detection and treatment are key to keeping your skin healthy in the long term.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Dr. Sherber looks for subtle clues in patients’ family history and in their skin to ensure that trouble spots are treated efficiently and effectively.
Basal Cell Cancer is now the most common cancer in humans. These skin cancers may appear benign, and Dr. Sherber uses a trained eye to diagnose them early.
Squamous Cell Cancer is generally seen in areas of chronic sun exposure and can often be mistaken for benign growths, and Dr. Sherber uses a trained eye to diagnose them early.
In areas of skin that have accumulated sun exposure over the years, red rough areas with a sandpaper-y texture called actinic keratoses can develop. If untreated, these Pre-cancers can develop into Squamous cell cancer.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and early detection and complete removal are the keys to a successful outcome.
Melanoma can appear as an “ugly duckling” spot that doesn’t resemble any other on the skin, or can be suspicious based on the ABCDEs: Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter, Evolution.
Family history is important, and first-degree relatives of those diagnosed with melanoma should be screened routinely.
Dr. Sherber looks for subtle abnormalities in pigment network in order to diagnose these skin cancers, and examines them with dermoscopy.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS
Dr. Sherber ensures that her patients have a comprehensive treatment plan and thorough follow-up in the years following diagnosis.
Depending on the depth and size of the melanoma, Dr. Sherber may involve a Mohs surgeon, plastic surgeon, or oncologist as needed. She has a team of top experts who prioritize the care of her patients to ensure that treatment is prompt and complete.
Following a melanoma diagnosis, Dr. Sherber suggests total body photographs to give a baseline set of images against which future skin exams can be compared.
Following a diagnosis of skin cancer, ongoing broad spectrum sun protection and regular total body skin examinations are critically important.
Basal cell cancer is now the most common cancer in humans, not only the most common form of skin cancer.
These skin cancers may appear as pink bumps that can be mistaken for pimples, moles, or other benign growths, and Dr. Sherber uses a trained eye as well as dermoscopy to diagnose them.
Some basal cell cancers may appear skin-colored or may have clumps of dark pigmentation.
They may bleed easily or be slow to heal.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS
Depending on the site and the size of the basal cell cancer, Dr. Sherber may recommend Mohs surgery or a plastic surgical excision. With complete removal, recurrence should not be a concern.
For superficial variants, a topical treatment approach may be appropriate.
For basal cell cancers on the face, pre-treating the area of excision with laser and/or Botox may be advisable to optimize scar healing.
Following a diagnosis of skin cancer, ongoing broad spectrum sun protection and regular total body skin examinations are critically important.
This is a very common skin cancer, and is generally seen in areas of chronic sun exposure such as the face, lips, chest, back of the hands, or lower legs.
These skin cancers may appear as rough red areas that can be mistaken for benign growths. Dr. Sherber uses a trained eye as well as dermoscopy to diagnose them.
They may bleed easily or be slow to heal, and may be tender.
Squamous cell cancers are more common in those with suppressed immune systems such as organ transplant recipients.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS
Depending on the site and the size of the squamous cell cancer, Dr. Sherber may recommend Mohs surgery or a plastic surgical excision. With complete removal, recurrence should not be a concern.
For superficial variants, a topical treatment approach may be appropriate.
For squamous cell cancers on the face, pre-treating the area of excision with laser and/or Botox may be advisable to optimize scar healing.
Following a diagnosis of skin cancer, ongoing broad spectrum sun protection and regular total body skin examinations are critically important.
In areas of skin that have accumulated sun exposure over the years, red rough areas with a sandpaper-y texture called actinic keratoses can develop. If untreated, these can develop into Squamous Cell Cancer.
The thin skin of the lips is vulnerable to sun damage and can develop pre-cancerous changes called actinic chelitis. This can be mistaken for chapped lips since the affected area will have rough texture.
Early detection is key because this can be treated with a cream if not yet developed into Squamous Cell Cancer.
Anywhere on the body, atypical pigmented lesions can evolve. These may have uneven pigmentation, blurry borders, asymmetric shape, unusual or very dark color, or may simply be new or changing.
Atypical, or dysplastic, nevi can evolve into Melanoma.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS
In most cases of actinic keratosis, Dr. Sherber prefers to use new topical treatments that target the abnormal cells. These creams work by selectively killing pre-cancerous skin cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. The newest versions involve only a few days of redness in the treated area.
For dysplastic nevi, Dr. Sherber recommends plastic surgical excision with a safety margin to ensure complete removal.
Once pre-cancers have been diagnosed, ongoing Broad Spectrum Sun Protection and regular total body skin examinations are of primary importance.
Dr. Sherber graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where she designed and implemented a novel degree program in health policy focused on assessing and improving quality of care. She next attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she earned her M.D. degree. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical research at Columbia University, she returned to Johns Hopkins for dermatology residency training and conducted research in scar healing and in disorders of abnormal collagen. She is now a Clinical Assistant Professor at George Washington University in the Department of Dermatology.
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Sherber+Rad1101 15th St. NW, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20005
