Cancer Types

Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are usually removed with one of the treatments listed below.

Skin cancer excision

In this procedure, doctors numb the affected area with a local anesthetic and then remove it completely. Typically, a small amount of healthy tissue around the area is also removed. If the patient has not been diagnosed before, the tissue is sent to a pathologist, who examines the sample to confirm the diagnosis.

Mohs operation for skin cancer

In this procedure, dermatologist surgeons remove a very thin layer of tumor tissue and examine it under a microscope. If skin cancer cells can be seen in this layer, the doctor will continue to scrape off one layer at a time until no cancer cells are found. This procedure has a very high cure rate and typically results in less scarring removal.

Mohs surgery is usually performed in a doctor's office. The patient's skin was numb and occasionally mild sedatives were given.

Cryosurgery for skin cancer

Cryosurgery is less invasive than traditional surgery. It is often used to treat actinic keratosis (a precancerous skin condition) and occasionally for small, emerging skin cancers.

In this procedure, doctors use liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy diseased tissue. This process can be repeated. Because doctors can focus cryotherapy on a limited area, destruction of nearby healthy tissue can often be avoided.

Local chemotherapy for skin cancer

Chemotherapy drugs work by killing fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. Skin cancer chemotherapy is used as a topical ointment that is applied to the affected skin. At the end of treatment, the patient's skin may be redness and scab, which usually heals within two to three weeks. Like cryosurgery, local chemotherapy can also be used to treat actinic keratosis and superficial skin cancer. Cryosurgery is usually limited to a small area, while local chemotherapy can cover a large area of skin, such as a patient's entire face.

Laser surgery for skin cancer

Laser surgery is used to treat precancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis and early superficial skin cancer. In laser surgery, doctors use an intense focused beam of light to destroy skin cancer.

Depending on the depth of the cancer cells, the laser can be set to cut the skin in the control layer. The surgeon can remove only the top layer, or he can remove the top layer and add other deeper layers.

The laser damage, combined with the body's immune response to the injury, causes the wound to blister and take several weeks to heal.

Electric curettage

In this procedure, the doctor uses a curette (curette) and electrical current to destroy and remove small and superficial skin cancers.

Treatment of high-risk or metastatic skin cancer

Treatment becomes more complicated when a patient's skin cancer has spread or is at high risk of spreading. For example, high-risk skin cancer of the head and neck can be treated by a head and neck surgeon. These doctors meet to discuss the patient's condition and work out a treatment plan together. Treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and so on.