Are you concerned that you have skin cancer that needs to be treated? If so, you'll definitely want to go to a dermatologist to have them investigate the matter further. If it is discovered that you do have skin cancer, it will help to know some common methods used to treat each type.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that forms on the outermost layer of the skin and is incredibly common among skin cancer cases. It will appear as translucent, raised, or pearly bumps on your skin, but it can also look like a scar.
Mohs surgery is often used to remove basal cell carcinoma, especially in areas where you do not want to leave a scar behind, such as on someone's face. There is the option to perform excisional surgery, which is when the entire cancerous growth and surrounding healthy skin are removed. Curettage and electrodesiccation is another method that involves scraping away at the tissue and then cauterizing the area.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Patients with squamous cell carcinoma will have a scaly or bumpy patch on their skin that can be red in color and easily bleed. It also may appear like a wart as well and is found on areas of the body exposed to the sun.
Removal of squamous cell carcinoma can also involve Mohs and excisional surgery. Other options include radiation therapy, where the goal is to kill the cancers with high-energy x-rays. Cryotherapy can also be used, which is when the cancerous tissues are frozen by using liquid nitrogen.
Melanoma
Melanoma can start as an odd-looking mole that looks a bit different than others on your body. It is typically more dangerous than the other two types of skin cancer, which is due to how melanoma can spread to different parts of the body. When caught early it is very easy to prevent melanoma from spreading with a minimally invasive procedure. Mohs and excisional surgery can be used to remove all of the melanoma from your skin.
When the melanoma spreads elsewhere, then other procedures must be used. Immunotherapy is an option that will stimulate a person's immune system to attack cancer cells. There is also chemotherapy for more advanced forms of melanoma.
Reach out to a dermatologist in your area for a skin cancer screening. They'll look at your skin condition, tell you what it is, and recommend a skin cancer treatment to remove it.
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