
How to Treat a Sunburn
Sunburns are dangerous ailments. They aren't just painful, peeling, itchy, unsightly blemishes—they also increase your risk of developing skin cancer, particularly in children, who may be twice as likely to develop melanoma if they get even a single blistering sunburn. When sunburns do occur, however, take the steps necessary to reduce the pain and alleviate the damage. Sunburns are sneaky—they start with a tell-tale tingling or feeling of tightness in the skin during the initial exposure, followed by a slow reddening, but may take 4–6 hours to fully develop.

Benefits of Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer
Radiation therapy is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment option for non-melanoma skin cancer, including basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery is the most common treatment option for non-melanoma skin cancer, particularly for minor, early-stage cases. Radiation, however, provides an excellent option as an alternative to surgery in many cases, as well as optimizing the effectiveness of skin cancer treatment when paired with surgery as an adjunct therapy.

Protecting Your Skin From the Sun
Harmful UV rays pose a significant threat to the health of our skin. Sunburns, premature aging, and skin cancer are all common side effects of frequent exposure to the sun. It's simple to protect yourself from these dangers—apply sunscreen, don't use tanning beds, wear protective clothing, and stay out of the sun when possible, especially during the middle of the day. By making these activities a part of your daily routine, you can maintain healthy skin and avoid skin cancer. Download and print the infographic below, put it on the refrigerator, and keep yourself safe from the sun!

UV Rays & How the Sun Can Damage Your Skin
While sunburns are painful and unsightly, they are far from the most dangerous aspect of UV radiation. After the sunburn fades, severe UV radiation damage and/or long-term sun exposure can alter our DNA and cause us to develop skin cancer.


Meet Dr. Bradley McCall, MD, SERO’s May Provider of the Month
Learn more about Dr. Bradley McCall and the other compassionate radiation oncologists at SERO, Charlotte’s leading provider of radiation cancer treatment.




Sharing Your Cancer Diagnosis
A cancer diagnosis can feel like a long road with countless forks in its path, each one presenting a difficult decision you must make. One of these difficult decisions is who to tell about your cancer…

Meet Dr. Jerome M. Butler, Jr., SERO’s November Provider of the Month
At SERO, we are committed to fostering meaningful relationships between patients and providers. Connecting on a deeper level allows our physicians to deliver exceptional and personalized care. To…

Welcome SERO’s Newest Advanced Practice Provider | SERO
Since 1977, SERO’s compassionate medical professionals have provided high-quality care to the Charlotte metro area. This month, advanced practice provider Jennifer Smith joins the team, bringing more…

Meet Dr. Robert Doline, MD, SERO’s October Provider of the Month
Radiation oncology is rooted in trust. When cancer patients seek treatment at SERO, they are placing their lives in the hands of our dedicated medical professionals. We do not take that lightly.
To…

Prostate Cancer Survival Rates
Outside of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US. The likelihood of developing prostate cancer increases with age, and some 60% of cases are found in men 65 and above.…

Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction
In men, prostate cancer affects the prostate gland that produces seminal fluid, which nourishes sperm. The blood vessels and nerves surrounding the prostate are very sensitive and therefore respond…

How to Care for Skin During Radiation
Radiation is one of the best treatments we have in fighting and curing cancer. While modern radiation treatments have fewer side effects than their predecessors, treatments may still irritate the…

What is a Cancer Caregiver?
A cancer diagnosis does not just affect the patient. Spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends, and other loved ones may all be called upon to help. A cancer caregiver is someone who helps a person…

What Are the Stages of Prostate Cancer?
SERO reviews the four stages of prostate cancer and the staging systems used to identify the progression of prostate cancer.

The Cost of Cancer
Navigating the costs of cancer on top of the disease itself may seem overwhelming. If you are dealing with a cancer diagnosis, you may prefer to ask a friend or family member to make decisions regarding the financial side of your treatment.

11 Steps for Choosing Your Cancer Treatment
After your cancer diagnosis, your primary care physician will begin discussing your cancer treatment plan with you and your family. At SERO, we specialize in radiation therapy, a localized, highly…

What Is a Cancer Treatment Plan?
Cancer treatment plans ensure that your entire cancer team understands the patient’s cancer, treatments, symptoms, and goals. SERO covers what your plan should include.

Meet Dr. Kevin S. Roof, MD, SERO’s July 2021 Provider of the Month
At SERO, our providers see patients as more than a diagnosis. Our physicians see you for who you are—an individual with unique passions—and they want to help you recover and return to those interests.
By…

What Makes a Healthy Cell Turn Cancerous?
Healthy cells turn cancerous when they experience a genetic change that causes the cell to become immortal. Instead of undergoing regular cellular death, the immortal cell continues to live, but no…

Top 5 Ingredients of a Healthy Diet During Radiation Cancer Therapy
Including the top 5 ingredients to a healthy diet during radiation therapy is a recipe for a swift recovery with fewer side effects. Radiation therapy can change how a patient’s body accepts certain foods and uses nutrients. Each radiation therapy patient reacts differently to treatment.

Why Am I Tired After Radiation Therapy?
A cancer diagnosis changes your life. Depending on the type of cancer, treatments may include chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, surgery, immunotherapy and radiation therapy, or a multidisciplinary…

How to Perform a Skin Cancer Self-Exam
Step-by-step guide to performing a skin cancer self-exam. Protecting yourself against harmful UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds is the most important step to preventing skin cancer. The second most important step is monitoring your body to detect signs and symptoms of skin cancer early—when it is least dangerous and easiest to treat and cure.

Atypical Moles vs. Precancerous Moles vs. Normal Moles
Most of us have moles on our bodies. While moles can be perfectly normal, it is important to understand the characteristics of a normal mole as well as atypical moles and cancerous moles and whether we…

What are the Early Signs and Symptoms of Cancer?
Cancer afflicts approximately one in two men, and one in three women, in his or her lifetime. One of the keys to successful cancer treatment is early detection. Fortunately, screening tools exist for many…

July is UV Safety Month
The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and it is officially summer in the South. Did you know July is UV Safety Month? Here are some skin cancer facts and sun protection tips to get your…

Where is Skin Cancer Most Commonly Found on the Body?
Cancer forms when cells divide out of control. When these cells divide without any checks or balances, they can start to crowd out vital organs and release substances that can create an imbalance in the…

Melanoma Detection & Prevention
Melanoma Detection & Prevention
May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month and the story here is reasonably positive. Most people know that melanoma is a worrisome cancer…

Scientists Use Deadly Virus to Fight Brain Tumors
Scientists looking for new treatments for patients with brain tumors, including those caused by metastatic melanoma, have turned to an unlikely source: a deadly tropical virus. The virus, called Lassa, causes a deadly hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa. A team of cancer scientists from Yale and Harvard are altering part of the virus's genetic code, combining it with a different virus, and injecting it into the human brain where they hope it can be used to find and destroy cancer cells.