Expert, Coordinated Care for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

“At Albany Med, skin cancer patients get more than one doctor and more than one specialist – even if they only see one doctor,” said surgical oncologist Lindy Davis, MD.

That’s because Albany Med’s skilled skin cancer team includes head and neck cancer surgeons, plastic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. Together, they diagnose, treat and care for patients with all forms of skin cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (including basal cell and squamous cell) are the most common types of skin cancers, but melanoma is the deadliest.

“Melanoma is a more aggressive type of cancer that can spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body, so those patients often need multidisciplinary care,” explained Dr. Davis, who specializes in the surgical management of cancer, including advanced melanoma.

To best coordinate care, the skin cancer team meets regularly before, during and after a patient’s treatment.

“By gathering specialists with distinct expertise together at all stages of the treatment, we’re able to establish a plan that will achieve the best possible outcome for each individual patient,” said Dr. Davis.