Skin cancer is a tumor or growth on the skin which is created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. Skin cancer can develop on any part of the body but it is more common on those parts of skin that are often exposed to sunlight like arms, neck, face hands etc. Through the blood stream or lymph system, skin cancer can grow and spread to different parts of the body and may form secondary tumors-- termed a metastasis.
Types of skin cancer
There are different types of skin cancer that grow in the skin include:
Non melanoma skin cancer(NMSC): Different type of NMSC include Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma Skin cancer.
Skin Cancer treatment
To treat skin cancer, there are various treatment options available. But skin cancer treatment depends upon a number of factors like type of skin cancer and stage; location and size of the cancer; and patient’s general health condition and age. Different skin cancer treatment options are:
Surgery: There are various skin cancer surgery treatment options available that a surgeon can recommend you. These include:
1.Cryosurgery- In this procedure, cancer cells are frozen and killed by using liquid nitrogen. The extreme cold (-196°C) instantly kills tumor and this surgery technique is mainly used for small superficial skin cancer.
2.Curettage and Electrodessication- In this technique, using the curreta- a small spoon shaped tool- cancer and the tissue around the targeted skin is removed. In case cells left behind, an electric needle is then used to kill the cells immediately around the wound. To ensure all cancer is gone, this technique is often repeated 2-3 times.
3.Mohs micrographic Surgery(MMS)- MMS is considered as one of the best techniques of treating skin cancer. The benefit of Mohs micrographic surgery is that it provides the best chance of removing the skin cancer entirely, whereas reducing the amount of normal skin removed.
4.The other surgical treatment techniques which are also uses include Wide local excision, Skin grafting and Lymph node removal.
Non Surgical Skin Cancer Treatments:
1.Radiotherapy: This technique is good alternative of surgical treatment. It is an effective substitute of surgery for basal and squamous cell carcinomous. Particularly, Radiotherapy is used on facial area where surgery might cause scarring. Sometimes, it is used for tumors that have grown into deeper layers of the skin.
2.Chemotherapy: This technique is not a popular technique and occasionally used to treat skin cancer. It is usually a cream applied directly to the cancer. In rare cases, a course of chemotherapy is given by injection.
Other treatments like photodynamic therapy or topical immunotherapy cream may be used.
