Common Treatments for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer starts when abnormal skin cells grow out of control, and early treatment helps limit tissue damage. You may hear several treatment names during a diagnosis visit. Since each tumor differs by type, size, depth, and location, doctors match the method to the case. Here are some standard treatments for skin cancer:

Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery removes skin cancer in thin layers, and each layer gets checked under a microscope right away. This method takes more time than some office treatments. Since the doctor examines tissue during the visit, Mohs surgery helps spare healthy skin while tracking every edge of the tumor.

Doctors often recommend Mohs surgery for high-risk tumors or cancers on the face, and they also use it for growths that return after earlier treatment. Common reasons include:

• Unclear tumor borders
• Large size
• Precise location on the nose, lips, ears, or eyelids

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

Doctors often use curettage and electrodesiccation for small basal cell and squamous cell cancers. The procedure is quick, and it typically happens in an office. After the area becomes numb, the doctor scrapes away the tumor because a curette removes soft cancer tissue well.

Next, the doctor uses an electric current to destroy leftover cancer cells, and this step also helps control bleeding. The site may be scraped and treated more than once. Since the treatment does not remove a wide margin, doctors typically reserve it for low-risk tumors.

You might see this method used on the trunk, arms, or legs because those areas often heal with acceptable scars. It works well for cancers with clear borders, and it is less useful on the nose, ears, or eyelids. Doctors choose it carefully, but they avoid it for deeper or more aggressive tumors.

Excisional Surgery

Excisional surgery removes the tumor with a margin of normal-looking skin, and the specimen then goes to a lab. This is a standard treatment. As the lab checks the edges after removal, the report helps show whether the surgeon took out the full cancer. Doctors may use this method for melanoma and for many nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue, and liquid nitrogen is the usual tool. The treatment is typically brief. When doctors use it for selected superficial lesions, they freeze the area for a set time because cancer cells break down under very low temperatures. These are some of the benefits:

• Less invasive procedure with faster recovery times.
• Very effective for treating certain superficial skin lesions and precancerous conditions.
• Reduced hospital stays when performed as an outpatient procedure.
• Precise targeting of abnormal tissues, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Get Examined for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer treatment depends on tumor type, location, and depth, and several surgical methods serve different needs. You do not need to guess which option fits your case. If you notice a new growth, a sore that does not heal, or a changing mole, schedule a skin exam with a qualified medical professional because prompt evaluation guides the next step.