Dermatology and the VA

[DermViser]

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http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-va-delays-20140518-story.html#page=1

So I thought this article was very interesting. Really shows the importance of skin cancer awareness and detection. Quite a contrast to the Preventive Medicine doctor (the let's beat up on Mohs surgeons from the NY Times article), saying that skin cancer won't be the one to kill you as if it's no big deal: http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/patient-fights-back-against-big-medical-bills-122242627560

 

[MOHS_01]

Could I ever tell you stories about the poor skin cancer care rendered at the VA.... it's truly shameful.

 

[asmallchild]

Could I ever tell you stories about the poor skin cancer care rendered at the VA.... it's truly shameful.

It's sad I have my own collection of similar stories after 3 years of residency alone. It didn't take me much more than 2 surgical clinics to realize that untreated SCC is one of the more unpleasant ways to go. An observation that goes unnoticed in some circles (Linos E, Parvataneni R, Stuart SE, et al. Treatment of nonfatal conditions at the end of life: nonmelanoma skin cancer. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Jun 10;173(11):1006-12.). But I am glad a retort was offered (albeit a bit later and in a smaller impact factor journal to boot: Sobanko JF, Ross ST. Mistaken Conclusions in a Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Article Published in JAMA. Dermatol Surg. 2014 May;40(5):489-96.)