Using Florida Health Insurance To Stop Skin Cancer
Article by Wiley Long
You might expect skin cancer rates to be high in Florida, but it is the most common form of cancer all across the country. It occurs among all races and effects all types of skin. More than one million people are diagnosed with it each year, but this type of cancer has a high cure rate when detected early.
Health insurance in Florida is one of your best partners in both detection and early treatment. Dermatologists are the best qualified doctors to diagnose and treat this form of cancer thanks to extensive related training. It’s important to have a dermatologist check skin changes because cancer can occur anywhere on the body, even areas that are rarely exposed to sunlight.
In addition, a wide variety of signs makes it important to have someone with that kind of training evaluate changes in the skin. The signs can include an unusual looking mole or one that bleeds or itches. Sores that don’t heal, translucent growths with rolled edges, or shiny pinkish lesions could also indicate cancer. Areas of the skin that feel different to the touch should be checked, such as a waxy scar or a flat or depressed lesion that feels hard. Even a brown or black streak under a nail may be a sign.
How High Is Your Risk For Skin Cancer?
Even you don’t notice an alarming change in your skin, certain risk factors can make you more susceptible to developing this kind of cancer. Here are the risk factors that suggest you should have regular checkups with a dermatologist:
- A family history of skin cancer- Having previously developed cancer of the skin- Exposure to excessive sunlight, even if intermittent- Use of sun lamps or tanning beds – Having had severe sunburns- Fair skin or sun sensitive skin that tends to burn or freckle- Having asymmetrical, large or unusual moles- A large number of moles (50 or more)- Taking immunosuppressive medication- Having had x-ray treatments for acne.
How Curable Is Skin Cancer?
In the early stages, 95 percent of this type of cancer is curable. Even the most dangerous kind, melanoma, has a high 95 percent rate of cure when it only affects the outermost skin layers. Although malignant melanoma only accounts for a mere three percent of skin cancers, it is responsible for 75 percent of related deaths.
Melanoma can develop in areas rarely exposed to sunlight, such as inside the mouth, but it typically begins in a mole. It’s the most likely form of cancer to affect people between the ages of 25 and 29.
Dermatologists typically look for signs with a visual exam, and perform a biopsy when they suspect a malignancy. A biopsy can be performed in their office or at an outpatient facility because it’s a fast and simple procedure.
Why Is Florida Health Insurance Essential To Stop Skin Cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, people without health insurance or with inadequate coverage are less likely to be counseled on how to prevent cancer or to be screened for cancer. That means they’re more likely to be diagnosed in the later stages when cancer is harder to cure.
How skin cancer is treated depends on where it is located and how deeply it has penetrated, but there are many different kinds of treatment available. For what’s known as precancerous growths, laser surgery or a simple surgical operation may be the answer. Other effective treatments include chemical peeling, chemotherapy, dermabrasion, freezing, and a form of light therapy that’s known as photodynamic therapy.
Of course, charges can vary greatly, but one private dermatology clinic in Orlando priced Mohs specialized surgery at ,000 or less. At the Oregon Health & Science University, Mohs surgery could reach ,000 for severe cases that have spread.
Florida health insurance plans will increase your chances of finding and curing skin cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. Public exchanges are expected in 2014 to increase access to affordable health insurance, but is it safe to wait? If you purchase a new plan now, you’re guaranteed preventive care (including mammograms and colonoscopies) with no out-of-pocket costs. That means no co-pays and your deductible is waived for recommended preventive services.
About the Author
By Wiley Long – President, eFLhealthinsurance.com – Florida’s leading online health insurance agency specializing in individual and family Florida Health Insurance. Offering personal advisors to help you with all your Florida Health Insurance needs. Get an online Florida Health Insurance quote, get personal assistance, compare plans, apply online, and Save!
Skin Cancer Expert Dr. Coyle Connolly, DO, does a full-body check up on patient to detect if there are any new or existing moles or suspicious lesions that could be precancerous or cancerous.
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