When the body fails to repair DNA damage in skin cells, the cells divide and proliferate uncontrollably, resulting in skin cancer. A range of factors, such as genetics and skin type, can induce skin cell destruction.
Dermatologists, surgeons or surgical oncologists, plastic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists are some of the doctors who treat non-melanoma skin cancer.
Other health care professionals who work on cancer care teams include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, nutritionists, and others.
The size and location of the skin cancer, possible side effects, as well as the patient’s preferences and overall health, all influence treatment options and recommendations.
Take the time to learn about all of your treatment options, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you’re not sure about. Discuss the aims of each treatment with your doctor, as well as what you can expect during treatment.
When you and your doctors collaborate to determine therapies that are appropriate for your needs, this is known as shared decision making. Because skin cancer treatments have a variety of treatment choices, shared decision making is very crucial.
Find out more about how to choose the right treatment for you. People who have previously had skin cancer are at an increased risk of developing it again. A checkup should be done at least once a year for anyone who has been treated for skin cancer of any form. Pattern occurs in roughly 30% of skin cancer patients during the first two years of diagnosis.
- Surgery
During a medical procedure, surgery is used to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. During a simple surgical operation, many skin malignancies can be removed swiftly and simply from the skin. Other than that, there is usually no need for additional therapy.
The type of skin cancer, as well as the size and location of the lesion, influence the surgical procedure performed. A local anesthetic is used to numb the skin before most of these procedures.
- Other treatment options available locally
Doctors may employ photodynamic treatment, cryotherapy, or laser therapy to treat precancerous skin problems or cancerous lesions that are only visible on the surface of the skin.
- Laser therapy
It is a type of treatment that involves the use of Precancerous skin diseases that are only seen in the outer layer of the skin and can be destroyed by a narrow beam of high-intensity light.
- Freezing
Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and eliminate aberrant cells during this treatment, also known as cryotherapy. It’s typically used to treat precancerous skin lesions. When liquid nitrogen is administered to the skin, it stings at first, then blisters and sheds. It’s possible that you’ll require more than one freezing session. This technique can leave a scar on the skin in some cases.
Conclusion
Cancers do not all have the same causes. Your doctor may use tests to detect genes, proteins, and other components in cancer cells in order to determine the most effective treatment.
Moreover, investigations are still discovering fresh information about specific biological targets and new medicines focused on them.