Excision of Skin Cancer
All over the world, skin cancer is a highly prevalent disease. In the United States, approximately 5 million people are treated each year, making it the most diagnosed cancer in the country. The most common types seen are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Left untreated, skin cancer can be life-threatening. Thankfully, with proper treatment and removal of skin cancer cells, individuals can go on to lead healthy, normal lives.
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?
Skin cancer can take on a variety of different forms, varying in shape, size, coloration, and treatment methods. Sometimes spots can be itchy, painful, and ooze or bleed easily. It’s important to know where skin cancer is most common and to address it early with your family physician. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma usually appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin. In contrast, melanoma commonly appears on the torso (chest and back) or the lower legs in women. If caught early, most types of skin cancer can be treated with excision of the affected area.
Can Skin Cancer Spread?
The spread of basal and squamous cell carcinoma is rare, but it does occur. The most common and dangerous spreading is what’s known as metastatic melanoma, which occurs when cancer cells spread from the primary tumor on your skin into your internal organs. Melanoma can also arise from a variety of different primary cancers such as breast, lung, colon, and more.
Can Skin Cancer Be Cured?
Most cases can be treated with simple procedures and have high cure rates. Unfortunately, those with metastatic skin cancers have limited treatment options and often poor prognosis. This is why it’s important to address any suspicious areas on your skin with your doctor. Skin cancer can be removed before the disease spreads, preventing the need for chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
How To Remove Skin Cancer
The first step is to make an appointment with your doctor. You cannot remove skin cancer by picking it off yourself, which will likely cause more harm than good. In most scenarios, the procedures are simple and do not require general anesthesia, meaning you can stay awake while the physician removes the affected areas.
Mohs Surgery
Named after the pioneer behind the procedure, Dr. Franklin Mohs, this surgery involves removing a small amount of skin one layer at a time until the root of the cancer is extracted. After the initial skin excision, the doctor examines the sample to see if more surgery is required and a deeper excision needs to be made. The goal is to remove the cancer cells while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area, and most patients report minimal to no pain. The entire procedure takes about 2-3 hours, and the surgeon generally needs 1 to 3 passes to remove all the cancerous cells. The patient receives stitches to close the wound, which are taken out after a couple of weeks. Since the surgeon does not take more tissue than necessary, the scar should not be large.
Wide Local Excision
This procedure is typically performed when melanoma is diagnosed. The physician will perform an excision that removes both the cancerous and healthy tissue surrounding the area. This does leave a bigger scar and requires more wound care than other procedures, but this type of surgery is necessary when preventing the spread of melanoma skin cancer is a top priority.
Excision of Skin Cancer and Moles in Ashland, Kentucky
Not knowing if your moles are cancerous can cause anxiety, and the thought of getting them treated can be overwhelming. The best way to calm your nerves is to take the first step and set up an appointment with a physician. Finding a good doctor to diagnose and potentially remove your skin cancer lesion is a significant health decision. When you’re searching for a physician you can trust, than Dr. Basedow of Ashland, Kentucky.
Dr. Basedow is now accepting patients from the following cities:
Greenup, Worthington, Hamilton, Russell, Raceland, Wurtland, Bellefonte, Ironville, Flatwoods, Ironton, Coal Grove, Westwood, Perry, Cattlesburg, South Point, Ceredo, Fayette, Canonsburg, Union, and Huntington.
Dr. Basedow combines his years of education and experience to come up with the best treatment option for you.
Contact Azalea Health and Skin Treatment Center at 606-467-2360 to schedule your appointment today!
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