The skin is the largest organ in the body and home to the most common type of cancer in the United States ? skin cancer. Though most skin cancer is not life threatening, melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer kills thousands of people every year. Early detection and treatment leads to improved survival with melanoma and more normal appearance after treatment of other types of skin cancer.
Skin cancer treatment will depend on several factors. The type of tumor, size, location, previous treatments, and patient factors all play into the type of treatment which must be undertaken. For melanoma tumors, aggressive treatment is necessary and well defined through national standards. For basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, treatment is more reliant on the location of the tumor, size, and patient preference. Cryotherapy (freezing the cancer), topical medications which burn the tumor, and surgical excision are all options which should be discussed with the patient.
For some skin cancers, surgery is the best option. For those skin cancers in sensitive areas such as the face, eyelids, ears, and nose, Mohs micrographic surgery may be necessary. Mohs surgery is a special technique developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the early 1900s which allows specially trained surgeons to remove the smallest amount of normal tissue. In this way, the most normal tissue is left behind while still getting a clear margin ? free of tumor.
As with any cancer though, prevention is the best medicine. Use of sunscreens and avoidance of excess ultraviolet radiation (including tanning beds) are the two best methods for helping to prevent skin cancers from forming. There are many factors which play into skin cancer development though, including genetics, so regular mole checks are necessary to catch any skin cancers at an early stage.
The sooner a skin cancer is diangosed and treated, the better the outcome. For patients with a significant sun exposure history, a person or family history of skin cancer, and fair skin, yearly skin examinations by a primary care physician or dermatologist is necessary.
For more information about or , visit Dr. Verret on the web or call for a consultation 972.608.0100.
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Tags: health, Medicine, mohs surgery, Skin Cancer
Source: http://currenthealtharticles.org/skin-cancer/understanding-and-preventing-skin-cancer/
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