May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a critical time to raise awareness about prevention, early detection, and advanced treatment options for the most common cancer in the United States. For patients in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, access to expert, local cancer care is essential—and Cancer Care Northwest provides comprehensive skin cancer treatment close to home.
Skin cancer occurs when abnormal skin cells grow uncontrollably, most often due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The three primary types include:
Early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes, making regular skin checks and prompt evaluation of suspicious lesions essential.
Early detection dramatically improves outcomes. When identified at an early stage, many skin cancers can be treated with minimally invasive procedures. However, as cancer grows deeper or spreads, more advanced surgical approaches may be required.
That’s why regular skin checks—both at home and with a healthcare provider—are essential.
Cancer Care Northwest offers advanced surgical treatment for skin cancer using evidence-based techniques to achieve optimal outcomes.
Wide Local Excision (WLE) - Wide Local Excision (WLE) is a standard surgical procedure used to treat many types of skin cancer, particularly melanoma.
During WLE:
WLE is often the first-line treatment for early-stage melanoma and other skin cancers.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) - Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a critical staging procedure used to determine whether cancer has spread.
This procedure involves:
Why it matters:
Skin Grafting and Reconstruction - In cases where a larger area of skin is removed, reconstructive techniques such as skin grafting may be necessary.
Skin grafting:
This approach is commonly used for patients undergoing extensive skin cancer removal.
Surgical Management of Metastatic Skin Cancer - For patients with advanced or metastatic skin cancer, surgery may still play an important role.
Treatment may include:
At Cancer Care Northwest, surgical care is integrated with medical oncology and multidisciplinary cancer treatment planning, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care throughout their journey.
Patients throughout Spokane, Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene, and the Inland Northwest can access high-quality skin cancer treatment without traveling far.
Cancer Care Northwest provides:
This local access is especially important for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Prevention remains one of the most effective strategies during Skin Cancer Awareness Month:
If you notice any of the following, it’s time to seek evaluation:
Early evaluation by a specialist can significantly improve outcomes.
At Cancer Care Northwest, patients receive personalized skin cancer treatment in Spokane and the Inland Northwest, from early-stage procedures to advanced surgical management. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with skin cancer, or if you have concerns about a suspicious lesion, expert care is available—close to home.
