Skin Cancer and Melanoma Program, Chicago

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. By the numbers, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70. Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and other Midwestern states have seen a significant increase in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, with incidence rates higher than the national average.

City of Hope^® Cancer Center Chicago is addressing rising skin cancer risks in the Midwest with its Chicago Skin Cancer and Melanoma Program — home to multidisciplinary experts who specialize in screening, diagnostics and treatments for cancerous and noncancerous skin conditions.

Your Chicagoland Skin Cancer and Melanoma Treatment Options

Experts with the Skin Cancer and Melanoma Program at City of Hope Chicago provide comprehensive care for all stages of the disease, from initial diagnosis through treatment for advanced, recurrent or metastatic cases, including management of skin reactions related to certain cancer therapies such as immunotherapy.

The following treatment options are available to patients.

Dermatologic Surgery

• Mohs micrographic surgery with reconstruction for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and other cutaneous malignancies including atypical fibroxanthoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, extramammary Paget’s disease, pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, sebaceous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma
• Mohs micrographic surgery with reconstruction for melanoma in situ
• “Slow Mohs,” or staged excision, for melanoma, including melanoma in situ and invasive melanoma
• Excision of benign cutaneous growths (e.g., lipomas, cysts)
• Diagnostic and therapeutic biopsies including shave, punch and incisional of benign and malignant growths

Medical Oncology

• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapies
• Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and oncolytic virus therapy
• Genomic testing to determine the factors underlying cancer’s growth
• Clinical trials involving melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers

Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy is sometimes used for large, inoperable nonmelanoma skin tumors or to treat skin cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Procedures include:

• External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
• Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), a form of EBRT
• Brachytherapy

Our Melanoma and Skin Cancer Expertise

At locations in Lake County, downtown Chicago  and the North Shore, skin cancer patients can experience the City of Hope difference — specialization, speed and innovation — closer to home. Benefits include:

• Speed to care, scheduling consultations within 24 hours and delivering treatment plans within five to seven days.
• Multidisciplinary experts working together at a single location, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, dermatologists, Mohs surgeons, plastic surgeons, pathologists and supportive care providers, all with extensive experience treating various types of skin cancer and related conditions.
• Surgical procedures ranging from Mohs micrographic surgery to minimally invasive robotic surgeries for advanced cases — all performed by trained specialists including board-certified, fellowship-trained dermatologists and microsurgeons like Gaurav Singh, M.D., who has performed more than 10,000 Mohs procedures.
• A fully accredited hospital from organizations such as the Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons; Accreditation Program for Excellence^® (APEx), sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO); and Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI^®), a certification program of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
• A well-defined precision medicine program, enabling physicians to treat patients with the right therapy at the right time based on genomic information from a patient’s tumor and inherited DNA.
• Access to clinical trials, including studies of new drug therapies and combinations for skin cancer and melanoma.
• A long-term survivorship program aiming to reduce recurrence and support quality of life.

Dermatology Services for Noncancerous Conditions

At the Chicago Skin Cancer and Melanoma Program, on-site dermatologists care for a wide range of noncancerous skin, hair and nail concerns.

Depending on your needs and preferences, they may recommend creams or ointments (topical treatments), pills (oral medications), or injections to help you feel better and support your self-image.

Our dermatology team also provides full skin checks routinely to help catch skin cancer early. That’s important — because when melanoma is found early, the five-year survival rate is as high as 99%.