Health Network News

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States with over one million diagnosed annually. Fortunately, most skin cancers are not life threatening and can be easily treated. The most dangerous type, melanoma, can be lethal and kill thousands of people every year. The key to treatment of skin cancers is prevention and early detection.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma requires aggressive treatment and there are very well defined guidelines about treatment. The other two types can be more conservatively treated. Depending on the stage, location, and size, several treatment options exists. Topical medications can be used which help to ‘burn’ the skin cancers, cryotherapy can be used to freeze the tumors, and surgical excision can be used to completely remove the tumors.

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.