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Oncodermatology
at Cancer Care Outpatient Building
6202 Harry Hines Blvd., 9th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75235 (Directions)
214-645-4673
New Patient Appointment or 214-645-4673
The UT Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center Oncodermatology Clinic specializes in the skin care of cancer patients. Simmons Cancer Center is one of the few locations in Texas with a dedicated oncodermatology service.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment may experience many skin, hair, and nail conditions as side effects of treatment. In oncodermatology, we help you get the right diagnosis and therapy with a focus on your quality of life. We work alongside your cancer team to provide compassionate, integrated, and expert care.
Conditions We Treat
- Skin rashes from cancer treatments: Novel immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab or ipilimumab are effective at killing cancer but can also cause problems elsewhere in the body. The skin is the most common site for immune-related adverse events, and many rashes are possible. Appropriate grading, diagnosis, and interventions for these conditions are a pillar of oncodermatology. Targeted inhibitors can cause predictable side effects that we can manage. For example, EGFR inhibitors such as cetuximab can cause acne and nail changes. Chemotherapy can also have many skin side effects that we diagnose and treat.
- Post-surgery or radiation skin complications: Your team may consult us for appropriate diagnosis and management if you have a rash or skin growth after one of these interventions.
- Patients at high risk for skin cancer because of inherited or cancer-associated predispositions: Some cancer conditions, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), significantly increase a patient’s likelihood of skin cancer. We perform preventive skin exams for these patients. Alternatively, you may be following up with your oncology team because of an inheritable cancer risk. If that risk also affects your skin, your team can refer you for dermatologic care.
- Pre- and post-stem cell transplant care and graft-versus-host disease: Having a stem cell transplant involves suppressing the immune system, which can put you at increased risk of skin infections or inflammatory skin disease. Your oncologist might also refer you for the evaluation and management of graft-versus-host disease, which commonly affects the skin. We work closely with your transplant team because an interdisciplinary approach is critical for helping patients.
- Diagnosis and management of metastatic disease to the skin: Just as cancer can spread to other organs such as the lungs or liver, it can sometimes metastasize or spread to the skin. We can help diagnose and manage this condition.
- General dermatologic care of patients treated at Simmons Cancer Center: Your skin, hair, and nail conditions and concerns don’t have to be directly related to your cancer or its treatments to be seen in our clinic. We regularly treat diagnoses such as eczema, psoriasis, and fungal infections and routinely provide preventive skin examinations for moles and other skin growths. Our goal is to provide a clinical service where all your general dermatology needs are met.
The Oncodermatology Clinic doesn’t perform Mohs surgery or cosmetic procedures, but we have a network of dermatology colleagues that we can refer you to for these services.
Appointment Information
On the day of the appointment, please arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for parking and registration. We’ll do our best to see you at your scheduled appointment time.
Although we’ll make most of the arrangements for your appointment and will have access to your medical records and treatment plan, there are a few things you can do to be prepared.
Please:
- Bring your insurance information and/or a form of payment.
- Bring a list of your current prescriptions and over-the-counter (nonprescription) drugs, vitamins, or supplements, as well as a list of known drug allergies.
- Feel free to bring someone with you, ask questions, and take notes.
To facilitate ongoing communication, we recommend patients enroll in MyChart, which allows patients to communicate directly with UTSW providers, update contact information, complete visit questionnaires, and request clinic appointments. Sign in or sign up for MyChart.
What to Expect
Please expect to have a full-body skin exam on your first visit for comprehensive care. The physical exam is extremely important in dermatology, and we can’t take great care of you without it.
Our clinic regularly performs skin biopsies and cryosurgery. Often these are provided on the same day as your visit. In some circumstances, we may need to schedule your procedure on a separate day, and we’ll let you know at the time of your evaluation if this is necessary. Our clinic can also perform excisions of some benign and malignant lesions as well as intralesional injections.
We’re accustomed to treating patients at high risk for bleeding or infection.
Canceling an Appointment
If you need to cancel an appointment, please call the clinic or cancel via MyChart 24 to 48 hours in advance so we can accommodate other patients who might be waiting for an appointment.
The Only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas
Simmons Cancer Center is the first and only medical center in North Texas to earn the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive designation.
This elite distinction, which is held by only about 50 cancer centers nationwide, recognizes innovative research and excellence in patient care. It is the gold standard for cancer programs.
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We have a wide range of clinical trials open to patients with all types and stages of cancer. Search for opportunities to participate in a cancer study.