Can you recover from skin cancer?

Yes! Skin cancer can be effectively treated and many people are able to make a full recovery. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than three million Americans alive today have been treated for skin cancer.

The exact treatment will depend on the type of skin cancer, location and size of the tumor, your age and medical history, as well as other factors. Most commonly however, skin cancers can be cured with one or a combination of several treatments such as topical creams or gels, photodynamic therapy (PDT), cryotherapy (freezing), curettage & electrodesiccationg (scraping and burning off lesions), radiation therapy and surgery.

When it comes to prevention, early detection is key so it's important to do regular self-examinations of your own skin or visit a dermatologist once a year for an exam if you are at higher risk due to fair complexion or excessive sun exposure. Also use sunscreen with an SPF factor 30+, wear protective clothing when outdoors such as caps/hats with broad brims and long sleeve shirts/pants even when its cooler out – this combined with staying in shaded areas during peak times significantly reduces your risk for developing skin cancer.