Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin cancer is a common form of cancer. It involves abnormal growths of skin cells that can form anywhere on the body, but most frequently appear on skin that is exposed to the sun. Although most cases of skin cancer can be successfully treated, it is still important to keep skin safe and healthy and try to prevent this disease.

There are three major types of skin cancer that affect associated layers of the skin. These major types are:

• Squamous cell carcinoma affects the squamous cells, which are just below the outer surface of the skin and serve as the inner lining.
• Basal cell carcinoma affects the basal cells, which lay under the squamous cells and produce new skin cells.
• Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and affects the melanocytes, which produce melanin.

Skin cancers are very common conditions; the importance of recognizing them and removing them in the simplest and most effective way. At other times, the worrisome black growth that a patient thinks might kill them, is a benign growth and not life threatening at all.

Treatment

While surgery is often a choice for large dangerous skin cancers on the face, most skin cancers, especially non-facial, can be removed through simpler, less painful and less expensive methods, often with equally good or better cosmetic results. Other treatment options for skin cancers include; radiation therapy and plastic surgery. Patients are always invited to have a copy of their pathology report, which confirms the malignant nature of the lesion and that it was completely excised.