A Guideline to Surgical Treatment Options for Skin Cancer

Sometimes you may be nervous about the uncertainty of undergoing skin cancers. However, you should not be afraid of surgery because it is one of the popular methods to address skin cancer or may be the only required treatment. Since it is the prime method, most people struggling with skin cancer Downtown DC have embraced it. Depending on various factors, such as the type of skin cancer, there are different surgical treatments your provider may prescribe. Below is a guideline for surgical treatment options for skin cancer.

Mohs Surgery

This procedure is intended to remove skin cancer tumors while protecting the healthy tissues as much as possible. During the procedure, your surgeon removes cancerous cells from the skin layer until the detached layer does not show any signs of cancer cells. In most cases, practitioners utilize it on more clear areas like the head and neck to reduce scarring. It may sometimes require local anesthesia and can leave a scar on the area.

Reconstructive Surgery

Because skin cancer mainly develops on your face, plastic surgery may be ideal. Once your doctor schedules a treatment, he or she considers how the treatment may hamper the quality of your life, including how you talk, speak, feel, and eat. Before undergoing any skin cancer surgery, you should consult your doctor to know more about possible changes to your appearance.

Excision

Your surgeon executes this procedure by inserting a scalpel or a sharp razor to cut or shave a growth off the skin. Sometimes, you may receive local anesthesia to facilitate numbing of the affected area. A simple excision is developed with a scalpel to remove the skin growth, while a shave excision is created to shave or peel growth on the skin’s surface. The surgery may, however, leave a scar after execution.

Cryosurgery

During the execution, the specialist utilizes liquid nitrogen to freeze and damage the cancer cells. Moreover, your provider may insert a needle with a thermometer into the site to ensure it has effectively cooled to facilitate tumor removal. Since the main goal is to freeze the targeted area faster, several repetitions may be necessary. Typically, this procedure is ideal for patients with conditions that complicate the thought of more invasive surgical procedures. After the treatment, you may experience swelling, scarring, and blistering.

Laser Surgery

The procedure applies a laser beam, a strong and narrow light beam, to damage cancer cells. It is commonly utilized to treat superficial skin cancers. The high-intensity light is responsible for shrinking or destroying cancers or actinic keratosis. Due to the availability of lasers, there is minimal bleeding, scarring, and swelling, and recovery is quicker. Even though it may work effectively for basal cell skin carcinomas, sometimes it cannot eradicate all cancer cells and prevent them from returning.

Electrodesiccation and Curettage

During this procedure, your surgeon removes skin lesions using a curette. Once removal is over, the region is treated using an electric current through a needle-like electrode intended to kill any remaining cancer cells and minimize bleeding. This process is known as electrodesiccation which may require to be done several times. However, it may need a local anesthetic and leave a scar.

Skin cancer can be life-threatening if not treated early. If you are a candidate struggling to find a center offering skin cancer treatment, look no further because we have a solution for you. Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center in Downtown DC, Washington DC, provides comprehensive services led by a team of board-certified dermatologists. Call the office or book online today to request an appointment. You can also enjoy telemedicine consultations.