As Summer Officially Begins, Number of Skin Cancer Procedures in New Orleans on the Rise

NEW ORLEANS - June 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Reflecting an alarming national trend, skin cancer rates in the New Orleans area continue to climb. Skin surgeons at locally-based The Skin Surgery Centre today announced they have already performed more than 750 skin cancer procedures in the first five months of this year. By comparison, the facility performed approximately 500 procedures in total between January and June of 2015.

"There's definitely been a significant increase this year in the number of patients dermatologists have sent to us seeking potential skin cancer treatment," said Dr. Keith LeBlanc, Jr., a skin surgeon and founder of The Skin Surgery Centre.

"It falls in line with what we're seeing nationally as more and more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year."

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and accounts for approximately half of all cancers in the country. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more people have had skin cancer over the last three decades than all other cancers combined and nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer in the United States each year. One in five adults will develop skin cancer over their lifetime.

Although skin cancer is easily treatable if diagnosed early, the disease potentially can cause disfigurement or even death. Mohs micrographic surgery, an advanced treatment that removes skin cancer with a success rate of up to 99%, has come to be accepted as the single most effective technique for the disease, boosting cure rates and minimizing damage for qualified patients. With the Mohs technique, physicians at The Skin Surgery Centre such as Dr. LeBlanc and Dr. Elizabeth Bucher, can precisely identify and remove an entire tumor while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face.

Individuals most susceptible to skin cancer include those with red or blonde hair, those with light (blue or green) eyes, those who possess naturally lighter skin, and those with a family history of melanoma or other skin cancers. Skin cancer rates are typically highest with men, young people, and those who frequently work outdoors.

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of these three, melanoma is the most life-threatening and causes the vast majority of deaths from skin cancer.

Drs. LeBlanc and Bucher emphasize the importance of immediately seeing a dermatologist if a suspicious sore, pimple, scar, or mark appears on the skin, especially if the condition does not heal.

Drs. LeBlanc and Bucher are available for interview upon request.

About The Skin Surgery Centre
With locations in Metairie and Mandeville, The Skin Surgery Centre (https://theskinsurgerycentre.com) is a state-of-the-art facility for surgical and cosmetic treatments to maximize the health and appearance of skin. The Centre specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction as well as the latest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including botulinum toxins, soft-tissue fillers, chemical peels, and anti-aging skin care regimens.