Learn more about the different types of skin cancer.
Skin cancers are some of the most common cancers, and often, they're curable when found early. But regardless of whether you have an early-stage nonmelanoma skin cancer or an advanced, metastatic melanoma, a cancer diagnosis can bring on a mix of emotions. At MedStar Health, you can feel confident and assured knowing that you're getting the best skin cancer care available today, in convenient locations close to home.
Skin cancer types
Basal cell carcinoma
This commonly-diagnosed skin cancer is often highly treatable in your doctor's office. It's often found in parts of the body frequently exposed to the sun, like the face and hands. Basal cell carcinomas can appear in different colors and may look like a round bump, shiny scar, or scaly patch of skin.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a more life-threatening skin cancer, compared to non-melanoma cancers. However, thanks to advances in treatment options, like immunotherapy, more of these cancers can be cured than ever before. Because this type of skin cancer can spread more quickly, it's important to seek prompt treatment from an experienced team who has access to all of the latest surgical and therapeutic melanoma treatments.
Merkel cell carcinoma
This is a rare form of skin cancer but one of the most aggressive. It also has the highest risk of recurrence. For that reason, these cancers should be cared for at places like MedStar Health where our skin cancer experts diagnose and treat a high number of patients using a multidisciplinary approach. Your treatment plan involves input from several specialists in different fields, ensuring your treatment is highly personalized and backed by the latest advances in each specialty.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Like basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma is common. They may appear as an open sore, round growths, or scaly red patches. If found early, they are highly treatable. In fact, sometimes these cancers develop in pre-cancerous skin conditions, called solar keratosis, which is related to excessive sun exposure. When detected early, they can easily be removed in your doctor's office.
Looking for expert cancer care?
With multiple locations throughout the region, patients have access to many of the nation’s renowned cancer specialists offering high quality care, second opinions and a chance for better outcomes close to where they live and work. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the nation’s comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), serves as the research engine allowing patients access to clinical trials that often lead to breakthroughs in cancer care.
Our providers
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Medical Oncology
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Michael Benjamin Atkins, MD
Medical Oncology
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Patrick Andre Cross, MD
Medical Oncology
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Geoffrey Thomas Gibney, MD
Medical Oncology
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Radiation Oncology
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Peter Hyung-Kyun Ahn, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Katherine S Chen, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Matthew Edward Witek, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Our locations
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MedStar Franklin Square Cancer Center at Loch Raven Campus
5601 Loch Raven Blvd. Russell Morgan Building First Floor Baltimore, MD 21239
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus
12 MedStar Blvd. Ste. 180 Bel Air, MD 21015
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9103 Franklin Square Dr. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Cancer Institute Suite 220 Baltimore, MD 21237
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW Washington, DC 20007
MedStar Health: MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18105 Prince Philip Dr. TG100 Olney, MD 20832
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital
7501 Surratts Rd. Ste. 101 Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
25500 Point Lookout Rd. First Fl. Leonardtown, MD 20650
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Washington, D.C., 20010