Skin Cancer treatments
A variety of treatment options are available for those diagnosed with non-melanoma skin
cancer. Some carcinomas can be removed by cryosurgery, the process of freezing with liquid
nitrogen. Uncomplicated and previously untreated basal cell carcinoma of the trunk and
arms is often treated with curettage and electrodesiccation, which is the scraping of the
lesion and the destruction of any remaining malignant cells with an electrical current.
Removal of a lesion layer-by-layer down to normal margins (Moh's surgery) is an effective
treatment for both basal and squamous cell carcinoma. Radiation therapy is best reserved
for older, debilitated patients or when the tumor
is considered inoperable. Laser therapy is sometimes useful in specific cases; however,
this form of treatment is not widely used to treat skin cancer.
Skin cancer treatments for Squamous cell cancer
The treatment varies with the tumor's size, depth, location and
how much it has spread (metastasis).
Surgical removal of the tumor, which may include removal of the skin around the tumor
(wide excision), is often recommended. Microscopic shaving (Mohs' surgery) may remove
small tumors. Skin grafting may be needed if wide areas of skin are removed.
The tumor may be reduced in size by radiation treatments.
Chemotherapy can be used if surgery and radiation fail, but it is usually minimally
effect
Skin cancer treatments for Basal cell
carcinoma
Treatment varies depending on the size, depth, and location of
the cancer.
The carcinoma is removed using one of these
procedures:
- Scraping
- Cauterization
(burning)
- Surgical removal, including microscopic shaving (Mohs' surgery)
- Cryosurgery
(freezing)
- Radiation
Skin Cancer Treatments for Melanoma
The cancerous skin cells and a portion of the normal surrounding skin usually need to
be surgically removed. A procedure called surgical lymph node biopsy may be necessary to see if the cancer has
spread to nearby lymph nodes, which also may need to be removed. A skin graft may be
necessary after the surgery if a large area of skin is affected.
Only the smallest and most shallow melanomas can be cured by surgery alone, so early
diagnosis is very important. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or
immunotherapy (use of medications that stimulate the immune system, such as interferon)
may be recommended in addition to surgery.
If the skin cancer is deeper than 4 mm or the lymph nodes have cancer, there is a high
risk of the cancer spreading to other tissues and organs. Using interferon after surgery
may be useful for these patients. Studies have suggested that interferon improves the
overall chance of cure by approximately 10%.
However, interferon has many side effects and is sometimes difficult to tolerate.
Patients with high-risk melanomas should consider enrolling in clinical trials (research
studies of new medications or other treatments).
For patients with melanoma that has spread beyond the skin and lymph nodes to other
organs, treatment is more difficult. At this point, melanoma is usually not curable.
Treatment is usually directed at shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms. Both
chemotherapy and use of interferon or interleukin may be tried. These patients also should
consider participating in clinical trials |