Treating Skin Cancer

Early detection of skin cancer is essential. This is especially true of melanoma; the five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 99 percent. Other types of skin cancer are less likely to spread to other organs and be deadly, but treating them means surgically removing the cancer. The longer you wait, the more skin the doctor will need to remove. If the skin cancer is not detected early, the doctor also may have to remove muscle and bone.

During an office visit:

• The dermatologist will be able to tell you if a worrisome spot should be checked further.
  
• The doctor may perform a biopsy by numbing the skin and removing some or all of the spot and having it examined under a microscope.
  
• If the spot turns out to be cancer, the dermatologist will be sure all of the cancerous cells are removed from the skin.

Treatment varies depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. If the cancer has not spread, surgical removal may be all the treatment that's needed.

• Mohs surgery – One type of treatment for basal cell carcinoma is called Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery allows the dermatologist to treat the cancer while removing as little skin as possible. Here's what happens:
  
  
  • Thin layers of skin are removed and immediately examined under the microscope for cancer cells, while the patient waits.
    
    
  • The dermatologist continues to remove more skin until no cancer cells are visible.
    
• Chemotherapy and radiation – If a patient has melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma that has spread, other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, may be required.

Once a person has skin cancer – even if completely removed – it is important to vigilantly check the skin because the cancer may return. It also puts a person at higher risk of developing another skin cancer. If you've had skin cancer, it is important to keep follow-up appointments with your dermatologist and perform regular skin self exams.

For more detailed information about skin cancer, visit SkinCancerNet.

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