Melanoma and Other Skin

Cancers

Connect With Us: 616-555-1212

Anyone can get skin cancer — whether you are young or old, spend most of your time indoors or are outside all summer. Receiving timely care gives you the best chances of healing. And that’s precisely what you’ll find with the Cancer Network of West Michigan.

We make it easier than ever to get nationally recognized skin cancer treatment right in your community. You receive services from trusted surgeons and other cancer specialists, along with the support you deserve.

What is
Skin cancer?

Skin cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow rapidly. As skin cancer progresses, it penetrates deeper layers of skin and can spread to other organs. But early detection and treatment can help you become cancer-free.

Types of skin cancer we treat include:

  • Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type, forms in cells that produce new layers of skin.
  • Melanoma, the most aggressive form, develops in cells that give skin color (melanocytes) and spreads quickly.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type, develops in the middle and outer layer of skin cells.
Cancer
Services
Find out more about the services we offer, including tests, treatments and support.
Clinical
Trials
Get more information about national clinical trials happening right in our community.
Locations
Cancer services are available at several locations across West Michigan locations.

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Treatment Through the Cancer Network: Why Choose Us?

The Cancer Network helps you start healing sooner with care close to home. You benefit from the expertise of Mercy Health and University of Michigan Health-West, both award-winning organizations. University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center’s participation means care reflects recommendations from some of the nation’s leading cancer specialists. 

Our
Program
Highly
Skilled Doctors
You receive services from cancer surgeons, many of whom completed additional training through fellowships. They use advanced techniques to remove cancer with less disruption to healthy tissue. The team also includes medical and radiation oncologists who use research-based skin cancer treatment practices.
Support
A skin cancer diagnosis can leave you feeling uncertain about your future. Treatments can affect your appearance and self-esteem. But you won’t face these challenges alone. We offer emotional support and other services to help you feel confident about the road ahead.
Lifelong
Care
Even with successful treatment, skin cancer can come back. It’s also possible to have it in multiple areas of your body. We perform ongoing monitoring to catch the early signs of recurrence. And with three locations to choose from, these appointments are easier to fit into your busy schedule.
Melanoma and Skin
Cancer Symptoms
 

The primary symptom is an abnormal-looking mole. Cancerous moles typically form in areas that get a lot of sun. These include your chest, arms, legs, shoulders and the scalp if you are bald. But cancerous moles can also occur in areas you wouldn’t suspect, like under a nail or the soles of your feet.

diagnosing
Melanoma and SKin cancer
 

If we identify a mole that may be cancerous, the next step is to take a tissue sample (biopsy). Doctors who specialize in diagnosing cancer, pathologists, examine it under a microscope to confirm or rule out skin cancer.

Comprehensive Melanoma and
Skin Cancer treatment
 

For advanced skin cancer or growths that come back after treatment, we offer a range of therapies, including:

  • Chemotherapy uses drugs and other substances to slow cancer cell growth.
  • Radiation therapy directs powerful energy to a specific area to destroy cancer cells.
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy removes a sample of tissue from a lymph node near the cancerous mole if there is concern it has spread.
  • Reconstructive surgery restores function and appearance after removing large areas of tissue. Procedures may include covering a wound with a patch (graft) of skin from somewhere else on your body.
Melanoma and skin
Cancer Treatment
 
The therapy that’s right for you depends on the size and location of the cancer as well as how severe it is. We explain recommendations in ways that are easier to understand, so you know what to expect. For early-stage skin cancer, surgery is common. We carefully remove the cancerous mole and a small rim of nearby tissue to lower the risk of recurrence.
Self-Exams Can Detect
Early-Stage Skin Cancer
 

You know your skin best, which is why it’s important to perform periodic self-exams. Once a month, examine your skin in a well-lit area. If you find a suspicious growth, see your dermatologist right away for a mole check. It’s quick, painless and can give you peace of mind.

You and your doctor can use the ABCDE’s of skin cancer to identify abnormal moles:

  • A = asymmetrical: Unlike moles that are often round, skin cancer takes on odd shapes.
  • B = border: Moles have even borders. The edges of a cancerous mole may have scallops or notches.
  • C = color: Noncancerous moles are solid brown. Suspicious growths may have different tones including uneven brown, tan, black, red, white or blue.
  • D = diameter: Moles are typically no bigger than the width of a pencil eraser. Your doctor should assess any growth larger than this.
  • E = evolving: When you have a mole, its appearance doesn’t change over time. Melanoma and other skin cancers do. They may get bigger, start bleeding or cause itching.
Skin Cancer
Team
The best and brightest focused on your care.
Our
Locations
Expert care not far from home:

Cancer Network services are available at several locations across West Michigan. Each facility represents the full strength, compassion and expertise we have to offer. Our integrated approach makes it easier to receive care where you’re most comfortable — near home and loved ones. 

Trinity Health Lacks Cancer Center
250 Cherry Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Trinity Health Johnson Family Cancer Center
1440 Sherman Blvd
Muskegon, MI 49444
University of Michigan Health-West Cancer Center
5950 Metro Way
Wyoming, MI 49519

Connect With Us

Ready to Talk to an expert?
The Cancer Network of West Michigan can provide a fast-tracked evaluation of your diagnosis, helping you make the best decision for your care.