A biopsy is one way a dermatologist might diagnose skin cancer. Find out more about the procedure here.

Video Transcription

Male: Considering that skin cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease. It make sense to get tested annually. Female: It is not necessarily easy to diagnose skin cancer on your own, so remember to get your skin checked by a dermatologist at least once a year. During your appointment, your dermatologist will examine your skin closely, possibly using a handheld microscope like device called a dermatoscope. If he thinks that a lesion may be cancerous, he will take a biopsy. There are several different ways in which a biopsy can be performed, but in general, it involves numbing the suspicious area and removing part or all of a lesion for microscopic examination. A biopsy is the only way definitively to tell skin cancer is present. If your biopsy shows cancerous cells, your doctor will discuss various treatment options with you. Remember, skin cancer is usually curable if caught early, so stay up to date on the appearance of your skin and see your doctor if you notice any changes. [Music Playing]