Skin Cancers Team

Onco-Dermatologists treat skin cancer, including rare skin cancers and inherited skin cancers. They work with oncologists in other multidisciplinary teams to treat cancer-related skin conditions, such as those that occur from chemotherapy and other drugs.

Our team performs biopsies and simple surgical procedures, and it offers state-of-the-art treatment options for melanoma, including T-VEC (Imlygic®). T-VEC is the first and only improved viral therapy for melanomas that cannot be surgically removed. The team also refers patients who need Mohs Micrographic Surgery to the UNM Department of Dermaology, in which fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons use this tissue sparing technique to treat many types of skin cancer.

Medical Oncologists treat some of the most complex cancers using chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. They also manage clinical trials in these areas.

Surgical Oncologists surgically remove skin cancers, usually with a portion — called a margin — of normal skin to prevent the cancer from recurring. For melanoma, Merkel cell and other cancers that have a risk for spreading to lymph nodes, our surgeons use a technique called sentinel lymph node biopsy to remove a lymph node to see if the cancer has spread.

Nurse Navigators guide you in your treatment and serve as your regular point of contact.

Advanced Practice Providers may perform certain medical procedures and may give medications or injections under the guidance of a physician. They may also take medical histories or perform medical exams.