Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and rates are on the rise. About 1 in 4 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. However, there’s good news – we’re seeing better outcomes thanks to advancements in detection and treatment methods. When detected early, it is treatable and often curable.

Learning you have skin cancer can feel overwhelming. Nebraska Medicine physicians take the time to help you understand your diagnosis, treatment options and what you can expect from your care.

Our skin cancer experts provide care for:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma
• Merkel cell carcinoma
• Dermatofibrosarcoma proturberans
• Atypical fibroxanthoma 
• Other rare tumors

What to expect

At your first appointment, you’ll receive a comprehensive evaluation and meet the specialists who will take part in your care. Our skin cancer experts work closely with specialists throughout Nebraska Medicine to determine the best course of treatment for you. This multidisciplinary team may include specialists in medical oncology, dermatology, surgical oncology, Mohs surgery, head and neck oncology, plastic reconstructive surgery, pathology and radiation oncology.

Our experts use the most advanced treatments to give you the best outcome. Your treatment options will depend on your specific needs but may include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery or a combination.

Preventive care

We also provide treatments to reduce the number of new skin cancers for patients who have had skin cancer before. Treatments like cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, chemotherapy creams, photodynamic blue light therapy, oral vitamins and medications can target precancerous cells and help prevent new skin cancers from forming.

Why you should choose Nebraska Medicine

Many of our specialists are involved in research to find new treatments and cures for skin cancer. Our partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center gives us access to breakthrough clinical trials and innovative treatments for patients with the most complex forms of skin cancer. Our doctors are also part of a melanoma and nonmelanoma tissue bank created for research into the prevention and cure of melanoma.

Nebraska Medicine is an NCI-designated cancer center

We bring together more than 200 world-leading specialists and researchers to transform the cancer experience. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Nebraska.