There are several different types of skin cancer, and they do respond to treatment if caught early enough. The dermatologist will recommend a treatment based on the type of skin cancer, its severity, and its location.
What Is Excision?
Excision is a common way to treat different types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common, and melanoma, which is the most dangerous.
Excision is an outpatient procedure in which the doctor surgically removes the tumor plus a margin of healthy-looking tissue. After removing the tumor, the doctor will stitch the wound closed and send the tumor to a pathology lab for analysis and to make certain that they got all the cancer.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a specialized and painstaking surgery used to treat some basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The procedure is like that of excision, but the dermatologist will take the tumor to an on-site laboratory and examine it while the patient waits. If they find cancer cells in the border, they will return to the patient and remove more skin. They will repeat the process until they get samples that have no cancer cells.
What Is Superficial Radiation Therapy?
Superficial radiation therapy is a non-surgical treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It is a painless outpatient procedure, and each session takes about five minutes. Most patients need two treatments per week for six to eight weeks.
Contact My Dermatology & Cosmetic Center to learn more about skin cancer treatment in St. Petersburg, FL.
