Basal Cell Carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Melanoma from a Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury
5 days ago
5 min read

Cordova Dermatologist George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (11/16/2025)

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Basal Cell Carcinoma with a young female patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury Jr. discussing Skin Cancer with a young female patient

Skin Cancer, including Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma, and Melanoma, takes the lives of upwards of 20,000 Americans every year. That’s one person about every 26 minutes. Fortunately, Skin Cancer should be visible, and early detection leads to early treatment, saving lives.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses features of Melanoma with a young male patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury examines a young male patient's scalp

Let’s take a look at tips and clues that Dermatologists like myself use to diagnose Skin Cancer early, my Memphis Dermatology practice having been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, Cordova, TN, since 1993 (1-901-753-0168; 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018; www.Rheumderm.com/dermatology).

Skin Cancer Screenings at home can lead to a suspect of a possible Skin Cancer then that lesion can be brought to the attention of a Board-certified Dermatologist — Significant others often first detect suspected Skin Cancer by doing Skin Cancer Screenings at home

First, you’ve got to look for it to detect Skin Cancer. Many lives are saved by a concerned family member who inspects a loved one, detecting a changing growth or mole and getting the patient to the prompt attention of a Board-certified Dermatologist, for a Skin Cancer Screening. So to spot a suspicious growth early, you do need to get your family members pretty much naked, for a routine home inspection, because Skin Cancer occurs on all parts of the body.

Multiethnic students in a locker room all of whom need to know about the features of Melanoma Skin Cancer — People with all skin types can be subject to getting Skin Cancer including Melanoma

Years ago, we Dermatologists taught that certain people were “high risk” for Skin Cancer-: redheads, blondes, those who freckle easily, or those who love the sun or who have a history of severe sunburns. “Low risk” people were those who routinely wear sunscreen, avoid the sun and tanning salon bulbs, or people who tan easily. But we now realize that really everyone’s at risk of skin cancer. In fact, African-Americans tend to be diagnosed much later, leading to a higher fatality rate!

Be aware that Skin Cancer affects more than just senior citizens. In fact, the median age for development of Melanoma is 52 years old. That means that half of cases occur in people younger than 52.

Fair-skinned children who would be at higher risk of Skin Cancer including Melanoma being blone and brunette — Kids in a bed both of whom need to be protected from Melanoma Skin Cancer by regulat use of Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher

Please don’t forget to inspect your kids. Several thousand people under the age of 20 develop Melanoma in the U.S. each year, including several hundred below the age of 12.

Classic Melanoma exhibiting the ABCDE Melanoma warning signs including Asymmetry and Border irregularity with dark Color — Photo of a Melanoma with dark Color and Asymmetry and an irregular Border

So what do you watch for? What features of a growth or mole cause higher concern, and might be a sign of a type of high-risk mole called an atypical mole or dysplastic nevus?

Melanoma example exhibiting the ABCDE Melanoma warning signs — Classic Melanoma Skin Cancer exhibiting Asymmetry and Border irregulatiry with Color being dark and with various hues of brown and black

We look for what we call the A, B, C, D, E warning signs, or the ABCDE Warning Signs of Skin Cancer:

A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the lesion does not match the other half.

B stands for Border: a jagged border, perhaps like the coast of Maine, rather than of Florida.

C stands for Color change: different hues of brown or black within the lesion, or one mole that’s a darker color than the person’s other moles.

D stands for an increasing Diameter of the lesion

E stands for Evolving: if the lesion is changing, it’s best to bring it to the attention of a Dermatologist.

Several Basal Cell Skin Cancers exhibiting translucent growths that tend to break down and bleed — Several classic Basal Cell Carcinoma examples on a person's forearm

The telltale feature of a Basal Cell Skin Cancinoma, also called Basal Cell Skin Cancer, is a translucent or almost clear-looking growth, usually on sun-exposed parts of the body.

Characteristic Squamous Cell Skin Cancer showing crusting and scabbing on a patient's shoulder — Classic Squamous Cell Carcinoma on a patient's shoulder

Squamous Cell Skin Cancer, or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, tends to be more scabbed or crusted, and tends to bleed. Melanoma tends to be a pigmented lesion, meaning that it’s often black, brown, or gray in color.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr George Woodbury explaining to a young male patient that Melanoma Skin Cancer affects people in their 20s and 30s — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury talking about Melanoma Skin Cancer with a young male patient

The development of soreness or itching within a lesion can be a sign that it’s turned cancerous. So it’s an especially good idea to get a sore or itchy lesion checked by a Board-certified Dermatologist.

We know what action to take for suspicious moles or growths: if caught early, generally a Dermatologic Surgeon like myself will use a simple removal, or “excision” of the lesion under local anesthetic. If the lesion turns out to be a precancerous lesion – such as a high-risk atypical mole – or perhaps a severely atypical solar keratosis or actinic keratosis - or a full-fledged skin cancer - we often try to ensure that the lesion is completely out – by doing what’s called a “reexcision.”

Dermatologists must look at men's backs because the mole common location for Melanoma in men is on their backs — Best Dermatologist examining a male patient's back for Melanoma

Mohs Surgery – available in my own practice as a Memphis Dermatologist since 2004 – is a special technique in which the Skin Cancer is cut out – and then processed pathologically right in the office – to endeavor to check whether the borders of the specimen removed are clear of cancer or not. If those borders are not clear, we can then do a further stage or cycle or Mohs surgery to check once again for clear borders.

Scarlet Akins developed Metastatic Melanoma while pregnant — Scarlet Akins developed Melanoma when aged 26 and pregnant

For more tips on Melanoma and for Melanoma pictures, check out a short movie sponsored by myself as a Cordova Dermatologist: YouTube: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story.” It tells the story of Scarlet, a 26 year old student studying to be a teacher at Ole Miss who found out while seven months pregnant that she had metastatic Melanoma.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Skin Cancer regularly with Dermatology patients — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury Jr.

My own Memphis Dermatology practice these last 30 years has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, in Cordova, TN (1-901-753-0168; https://www.Rheumderm.com). Or you can find a “Dermatologist Near Me” or “Best Dermatologist Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then simply plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.