There are several different skin cancer treatment options. Once a patient is diagnosed with skin cancer, the type of treatment will depend on the type, size, and depth of the cancerous growth, as well as the patient’s age and overall health. The three different types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Of the three, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common and also the most easily treated. Most treatments can be administered at our facility using a localized anesthetic and can be accomplished in less than two hours.
Mohs is a highly effective skin cancer treatment procedure that involves the excision of the cancerous tissue followed by examination of that tissue under a microscope to ensure no cancerous tissues are left behind. This approach is minimally invasive and boasts a high cure rate.
A second skin cancer treatment option is the standard excision, during which cancerous tissue is removed along with a certain amount of tissue that appears normal to ensure that no cancerous tissue remains. This approach is often best for patients with melanoma or other skin cancers occurring on the torso.
A third skin cancer treatment option effective for patients with basal cell carcinoma and early squamous cell carcinoma is curettage and electrodessication, during which the doctor scrapes away the cancerous tissue with a curette and cauterizes the remaining tissue to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. This treatment option also has extremely high success rates of more than 90 percent.
While some patients might require just one treatment, others will require multiple appointments in order to eliminate all cancerous cells, as well as follow-up appointments to ensure the skin is healing. With the application of a local anesthetic, patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during the procedure, and pain following the procedure is minimal and can be easily addressed with over-the-counter medications. Our doctors provide all patients with a list of aftercare instructions.
For some patients—specifically, those diagnosed with certain types of basal cell carcinoma —skin cancer treatment can be accomplished with topical or oral medications. Topical medications include Imiquimod and 5-Fluorouracil, both of which can be used to address superficial cases of basal cell carcinoma. Oral medications, including vismodegib and sonidegib, are utilized to treat patients that cannot undergo more traditional skin cancer treatment.
