There’s something about sunny days that has people going out to bask under it. Experts say spending time in the sun increases life expectancy. You also get a good Vitamin D dose. Sunshine can lower your blood pressure and help you lose weight. Sunny days also make us happier.
You have to be careful with sun exposure though. Too much sun can put you at risk for skin cancer. This is a disease where abnormal cells grow in the skin tissues. Skin cells growing old and dying is normal. New cells will form to replace old ones. But sometimes these cells grow faster than expected. The cells can be cancerous or benign.
Data shows that one in five Americans develop skin cancer by the time they reach their 70s. It’s not surprising to know that this is the top form of cancer in the country. Most skin cancers are benign or non-melanoma. About one percent of skin cancer is melanoma, which is dangerous. It has a high survival rate though if caught early.
There are various treatments for skin cancer. These depend on the size, type, and location of the skin’s lesions. Treatments are often done in a dermatologist’s clinic. Others need outpatient surgery. Here are the top treatments for skin cancer.
Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment option for most types of skin cancer. Patients with basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas can have surgery. A dermatologist can do the procedure. They will use a local anesthetic. The cancer cells are then removed. The doctor will also remove the margin or the skin around the cancer. Some surgical procedures a dermatologist or doctor would do are:
- Cryosurgery: The doctor will use liquid nitrogen to freeze the cancer. The dead skin tissue will slough off without problems once the nitrogen thaws.
- Excisional surgery: The doctor will remove the tumor and parts of the healthy skin around it. They’ll do this to ensure they get all the cancer.
- Moh’s surgery: This surgery is often done on larger and hard-to-treat cancers. The doctor will remove the diseased skin tissue while saving as much of the normal tissue. They’ll then examine each layer under the microscope. They will do the procedure until there are no abnormal cells left.
Chemotherapy
The oncologist or dermatologist kills cancer cells by using medications. Your doctor will either do topical chemotherapy or systemic chemotherapy. The former entails the doctor applying the anticancer medication on the skin. They do this if the cancer is on the top layer of the skin.
Another option is systemic chemotherapy. This entails the medication administered through an IV or pills. It’s the usual treatment if the cancer has spread through the body.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is also used to treat skin cancer. It’s a treatment that often follows surgery. The therapy focused on the area where the doctor removed the lymph nodes. It’s a measure done to ensure that they kill any remaining cancer cells. It’s also a treatment done to a recurring cancer. Doctors use this therapy to reduce the size of the metastases and to ease symptoms.
There are several radiation therapy techniques used today. The most common ones are External Beam radiation therapy and Intensity Modulated therapy. The EBRT directs a beam of radiation to the cancer tissues. IMRT uses higher radiation levels on cancer cells.
Topical Therapy Treatments
This is a non-surgical treatment for skin cancer. It’s used to destroy or remove localized skin cancer cells. You can use topical treatments alone. They’re also used to complement other treatments. Topical therapy is also used to treat basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas in the early stages. It’s also ideal for pre-cancerous or noncancerous.
Topical chemotherapy is an example of a topical treatment. Photodynamic therapy is another example. It uses a combination of drugs and laser light to destroy skin cancer tissues.
One Last Thing
Beautiful skin starts from within. Flagler Dermatology can help ensure your skin remains healthy and radiant. We’re the premier skin clinic in West Palm Beach. We combine the latest technology with the best medicines. The result is high-quality care with the best possible results. We specialize in surgical and medical dermatology. We do mole removal and Moh’s surgery. We also offer cosmetic services like Botox and fillers. You can reach us here. You can also call us at 561-584-8460.
