Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Dr. Ellen Turner Raises the Issue for May

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - May 08, 2017) - For Dr. Ellen Turner, a dermatologist serving Dallas, BOTOX® and similar facial rejuvenating options regularly prove to be the most popular treatments at her practice. Youthful skin -- both beautiful and healthy -- is obviously important to all of her patients, which is why Dr. Turner is capitalizing on May's designation as Skin Cancer Awareness Month to emphasize the medical side of her practice and promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.

Skin cancer awareness is important all year long -- not just when the weather turns warm and the sun starts shining every day. Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate cloud cover and bounce off of snow, making it something to be aware of, even on chilly, overcast days. However, spring and summer tend to invite more people outdoors for longer periods of time, making the start of sunny season an ideal time to remind women, men, and children about the realities of skin cancer: how to minimize the risk of getting it, how to catch it as early as possible, and how to treat it effectively.

The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 20 percent of all Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. While several factors -- including genetics -- play into the development of the disease, exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is a major culprit. A physical barrier against sunlight, in the form of long sleeves and pants, a hat, or shade from an umbrella, is effective, as is sunscreen properly applied and maintained throughout time spent outdoors.

Annual skin checks with a dermatologist should also be part of any person's strategy to avoid problems with skin cancer. Regular visits to a physician knowledgeable about skin health can allow the doctor to identify potential problems and get an accurate diagnosis before they develop further into bigger problems.

If skin cancer is diagnosed, treatment to remove it is the next step. A patient's treatment options depend on the type and stage of the cancer. The two most common forms -- basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma -- respond well to superficial radiation therapy, such as the kind used by Sensus Healthcare's SRT-100™. This nonsurgical method kills specific skin cancer and tumor-forming cells without the need for incisions and without harming other, healthy skin cells.

Dr. Turner is expanding the skin cancer resources on her website throughout the spring, and invites anyone who wants to learn more about the disease, its diagnosis, and treatments like SRT-100™ to visit dermofficedallas.com. People are also invited to call her Dallas office at (214) 373-7546.