Skin Cancer Treatment

Once a Skin Cancer is diagnosed, the surgeon treats the cancer based on the type of skin, location of the cancer, the stage of the cancer and the health of the patient. After considering the above, the surgeon will choose one or more of the following treatments.

Mohs surgery
Mohs Surgery is used to remove all the visible part of the skin cancer. Because the cancer cells are not visible to naked eye and this surgery can be performed only one layer at a time. After performing this, if the surgeon finds the cancer cells, the surgery is repeated and this process is often carried out until the surgeon no longer finds the cancer cells. Mohs Surgery is done within one day and the cure rate will be high. Usually then the dermatologist send the patient to a plastic surgeon for reconstruction.

Excisional Surgery
In this Surgery the surgeonremoves the skin cancer surgically and also a small amount of normal skin. The normal skin is also removed because it is considered as the margin and clean margins are usually the goal. The Excision Surgery is mostly performed at the surgeon’s office.

Curettage and electrodesiccation
Currettage and electrodesiccation surgery is mainly used to treat small basalcell and squamous cell skin cancer. This Surgery involves discarding the tumor cells with a surgical instrument or Curette which is in the shape of a long spoon followed by the electric needle to gently burn the remaining part of the cancer cells. This procedure is to be repeated 3 times. The wound will be healed in quick time.

Topical Chemotherapy
Tropical Chemotherapy is prescribed for mainly non-melanoma cancers. This treatment is mostly used for the squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses. Here the Chemotherapy cream includes Imiquimod (IMQ) or 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Both these creams fight against the cancer cells but in a different manner. Imiquimod destroys the cancer cells by stimulating the immune system and 5-fluorouracil prevents the dividing cancer cells from growing. Applying these creams will cause less scarring against the cancer cells. These creams are self applied and the consultation from the therapist alone is necessary.

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