Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are the three most common types of skin cancer and affect millions of people each year. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States but fortunately most types are easily treated. Unfortunately, the most aggressive form, melanoma, kills thousands of people each year. The key to treatment though is prevention.
Skin cancer treatment will depend on several factors. The type of tumor, size, location, previous treatments, and patient factors all play into the type of treatment which must be undertaken. For melanoma tumors, aggressive treatment is necessary and well defined through national standards. For basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, treatment is more reliant on the location of the tumor, size, and patient preference. Cryotherapy (freezing the cancer), topical medications which burn the tumor, and surgical excision are all options which should be discussed with the patient.
For some skin cancers, surgery is the best option. For those skin cancers in sensitive areas such as the face, eyelids, ears, and nose, Mohs micrographic surgery may be necessary. Mohs surgery is a special technique developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the early 1900s which allows specially trained surgeons to remove the smallest amount of normal tissue. In this way, the most normal tissue is left behind while still getting a clear margin - free of tumor.
As with any cancer though, prevention is the best medicine. Use of sunscreens and avoidance of excess ultraviolet radiation (including tanning beds) are the two best methods for helping to prevent skin cancers from forming. There are many factors which play into skin cancer development though, including genetics, so regular mole checks are necessary to catch any skin cancers at an early stage.
The sooner a skin cancer is diangosed and treated, the better the outcome. For patients with a significant sun exposure history, a person or family history of skin cancer, and fair skin, yearly skin examinations by a primary care physician or dermatologist is necessary.
Skin cancer treatment will depend on several factors. The type of tumor, size, location, previous treatments, and patient factors all play into the type of treatment which must be undertaken. For melanoma tumors, aggressive treatment is necessary and well defined through national standards. For basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, treatment is more reliant on the location of the tumor, size, and patient preference. Cryotherapy (freezing the cancer), topical medications which burn the tumor, and surgical excision are all options which should be discussed with the patient.
For some skin cancers, surgery is the best option. For those skin cancers in sensitive areas such as the face, eyelids, ears, and nose, Mohs micrographic surgery may be necessary. Mohs surgery is a special technique developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the early 1900s which allows specially trained surgeons to remove the smallest amount of normal tissue. In this way, the most normal tissue is left behind while still getting a clear margin - free of tumor.
As with any cancer though, prevention is the best medicine. Use of sunscreens and avoidance of excess ultraviolet radiation (including tanning beds) are the two best methods for helping to prevent skin cancers from forming. There are many factors which play into skin cancer development though, including genetics, so regular mole checks are necessary to catch any skin cancers at an early stage.
The sooner a skin cancer is diangosed and treated, the better the outcome. For patients with a significant sun exposure history, a person or family history of skin cancer, and fair skin, yearly skin examinations by a primary care physician or dermatologist is necessary.
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