More than 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer every day. Around two people end up passing away every hour as a result of skin cancer. One of the best ways to provide yourself with the opportunity to beat skin cancer is by detecting it early. This makes taking steps to prevent skin care recurrence essential.
What Is Skin Cancer Recurrence?
Experiencing a skin cancer recurrence means that cancer cells reappear in your body after you have already received treatment. A recurrence of skin cancer can occur in the same location as before or in a different area of your body.
There are several factors that contribute to a person’s particular risk of experiencing a recurrence. In general, genetics, lifestyle choices, and the stage of skin cancer that a person was diagnosed with previously may impact their chances of receiving a subsequent diagnosis after undergoing treatment.
What Causes Skin Cancer to Come Back?
Several factors can increase the likelihood of skin cancer recurrence. These include:
- Having a weakened immune system
- Not having all of the cancer cells removed during surgery
- Not following the treatment protocols recommended by your doctor
It is important to follow all of the doctor’s orders after being diagnosed and treated for skin cancer to provide yourself with the best chance of remaining in remission.
Skin Cancer Recurrence Risk Factors
In addition to the causes of skin cancer recurrence, there are several risk factors that increase a person’s chance of having their skin cancer return. These include:
- Having light hair, light eye color, and fair skin
- Having skin cancer previously
- Having a familial history of skin cancer
- Being exposed to the sun frequently
- Having a weakened immune system
- Having a history of severe sunburn
Skin Cancer Recurrence Prevention
While you cannot prevent skin cancer recurrence 100% of the time, there are several things that you can do to provide yourself with the best chance of not having your skin cancer return. These include:
- Always performing his regular self-exams to check for new growths or changes.
- Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and exercising regularly.
- Always wearing sunscreen with a high SPF whenever you have to go out in the sun.
- Limit your sun exposure.
Schedule a Skin Cancer Exam Today
If you would like to schedule a skin examination, contact Harris Dermatology at (239) 936-3344 for their Fort Myers location or (239) 596-1848 for their Naples location. You can also request an appointment online, and one of their board-certified dermatologists will see you as soon as possible.