Valley dermatologist using non-surgical skin cancer treatment

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - Skin cancer is now the most common of all cancers and accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. Affiliated Dermatology is now using a new technology to help treat patients effectively, without going under the knife.

"We know that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime," said Dr. Christine Lin, with Affiliated Dermatology.

The statistics are scary.

"There are more skin cancers diagnosed every year than all other cancers combined," says Dr. Lin.

Dr. Christine Lin with Affiliated Dermatology has been treating skin cancer patients her entire career, but now she has a new tool to use, which means her patients don't have to go under the knife.

It's called SRT or superficial radiation therapy.

"Superficial radiation therapy is wonderful because it's quick, safe, painless, and it's proven effective, it has a published cure rate of 95 to 98 percent," explained Dr. Lin.

SRT has been around for a long time, but the technology now allows doctors to use it more effectively.

For Steve Elson who has cancer on his nose, surgery wasn't an option so SRT was a perfect fit.

"It was a great course of action, completely painless and I love the results," said Steve Elson.