Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and rates are rising. About 1 in 4 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. However, there’s good news – advancements in detection and treatment are leading to better outcomes. When detected early, skin cancer 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 a multidisciplinary team that includes 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

For patients who have had skin cancer before, we offer treatments to reduce the risk of new cancers. Options like cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, chemotherapy creams, photodynamic blue light therapy, oral vitamins and medications target precancerous cells and help prevent recurrence

Why you should choose Nebraska Medicine

Nebraska Medicine is home to some of the most innovative skin cancer care available, with several advantages that set us apart:

Regional chemotherapy for melanoma: When melanoma spreads to specific areas of an arm or leg, regional chemotherapy can deliver high doses of heated chemotherapy directly to the affected area. Known as hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion or infusion, this treatment achieves a response rate of approximately 70%, offering hope for patients in these situations.

Personalized lymph node surgery: Advances in research allow us to reduce the extent of lymph node removal for melanoma, minimizing the risk of lymphedema while maintaining treatment effectiveness. Our specialists are actively involved in trials to further refine and improve these techniques.

Cell therapy for melanoma: As an international leader in cell therapy, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the only program in Nebraska offering cell therapy for melanoma, providing access to cutting-edge treatments.

In addition, many of our specialists contribute to groundbreaking research in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This collaboration grants our patients access to clinical trials and innovative therapies for even the most complex cases.

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.