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Diagnosed With Skin Cancer Weeks Before Wedding, 30-Year-Old Given Courage to Face the World

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 09:01 CDT

LOS ANGELES, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- For Carolyn, 30, life was going along exactly as she had dreamed -- an exciting job in entertainment, lots of social activities and falling in love and planning a wedding. Like all brides-to-be Carolyn wanted to be picture-perfect for her wedding day. So when she first noticed the small bump on her nose, she assumed it was a minor acne flair up. That small pimple, however, turned out to be a potentially deadly skin cancer that would require significant surgery that could permanently scar her face.

"Skin cancer incidence is rising faster than any other type of cancer," said Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, one of the world's most respected facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons who specializes in patients with skin cancers. "While they can occur anywhere, nearly 80 percent appear on the face, head, or neck, where they can be disfiguring as well as dangerous."

Treating skin cancers can be life-saving, but may leave a patient with less than pleasing cosmetic or functional results. Depending on the location and severity of the cancer, the consequences range from a small, unsightly scar to permanent changes in facial features. In these cases, a skilled plastic surgeon becomes an important part of the medical team, not only for the patient's physical health, but for their emotional and mental well-being as well.

In Carolyn's case, the skin cancer was successfully removed, but the damage to her nose was dramatic both cosmetically and functionally. In consulting with Dr. Azizzadeh, Carolyn opted for reconstructive surgery to repair damaged tissue, rebuild her nose and restore her appearance. She required a three-stage procedure where tissue was transferred from her forehead to reconstruct the large area of the nose that was involved. Cartilage was also used to build the infrastructure of the nose.

"It was an incredible transformation that gave me the courage to pick up my life as if nothing had ever happened," said Carolyn. "Dr. Azizzadeh's reconstructive surgery completely removed the most obvious reminder of my cancer and allowed me to move forward without literally facing the fear of cancer every day."

Reconstructive surgery differs from cosmetic surgery as it is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by any number of factors including birth defects, trauma or injury, tumors, or disease. This highly specialized surgery improves functions and restores an individual's appearance to approximate the "normal" look. It is estimated that more than one million reconstructive procedures are performed by plastic surgeons in the United States annually.

"On an average day in the U.S., more than one million people tan in tanning salons and thousands spend hours in the sun without any skin protection," said Dr. Azizzadeh. "Working with patients like Carolyn is bittersweet: I'm overjoyed to be able to make such a positive impact on her recovery and future, yet dismayed by the widespread disregard Americans seem to have when it comes to skin cancer."

Despite warnings, skin cancer rates continue to rise in the United States, with a significant increase among teens. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the U.S. annually, of which 2.3 million are teens despite facts that show use of tanning beds increase the risk for skin cancer by up to 2.5% and that using tanning beds before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75%. In addition, more than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, yet fewer than 33% of adults, adolescents, and children routinely use sun protection. One blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing Melanoma later in life.

Skin Cancer: -- One million Americans are diagnosed with Melanoma each year. The rate has increased by 4% annually since l973. -- Eighty percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure is acquired before age 18. -- Nearly 9,800 people in the United States die of skin cancer each year, 7,400 of those from Melanoma. -- Melanoma is responsible for three-fourths of annual U.S. skin cancer deaths. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is a Harvard-trained Facial Plastic Surgeon who specializes exclusively in the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, eyes and nose. He is the Director of The Center for Facial and Nasal Plastic Surgery and board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. His expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery has made him one of the most sought-after surgeons in the country. He has been featured in The Oprah Winfrey Show, The New York Times, Discovery Health, and numerous other media for his expertise in facial plastic surgery. For more information, visit (http://www.facialplastics.info/azizzadeh.html)

Photos available. Press Contact: Christine King, TMG International 310.887.7077 ck@tmginternational.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, M.D., F.A.C.S.

CONTACT: Christine King of TMG International for Dr. Babak Azizzadeh,M.D., F.A.C.S., +1-310-887-7077, ck@tmginternational.com

Web site: http://www.facialplastics.info/azizzadeh.html

Source: PRNewswire

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