Talking About Dermatology

Three Skin Cancer Treatments Your Doctor Might Recommend

Once you find out that you've gotten skin cancer, you are likely to want some kind of treatment immediately so that it doesn't spread. There are different procedures that can be done; your doctor is probably going to describe a number of options to rid your skin of cancer cells. The three treatments that are described below may help you.

Excision Procedure

The simplest way to get rid of the problematic cells causing your cancer is simply to cut them out. This process, done with a scalpel, is usually referred to as an excision. This is usually the procedure of choice when the lesion or lesions are not very large. It may surprise you to find out that the excision done typically includes some healthy skin as well; that's because your doctor needs to test that skin to ensure that all the cancerous cells have been removed and that the surrounding skin is healthy. Depending on the size of your lesion or lesions, you may be sent home to recover with bandages or stitches on the affected area.

Mohs Microscopic Surgery

Frederick Mohs perfected a surgery that is now named after him. This surgery is done by examining the skin during the procedure with the help of a microscope; your doctor will remove cancerous cells layer by layer. This procedure is very precise, allowing your doctor to focus directly on a lesion without bothering healthy skin. This procedure is generally done on lesions that don't have defined borders and lesions that are quite large. They can know right then and there that they've gotten rid of every problematic cell on your skin.  This can take some time, but is usually done on an outpatient basis. Afterwards, you are likely to wear bandages for healing.

Reconstruction and Grafting

For very deep, large lesions or recurrent bouts of skin cancer, your doctor might choose to discuss skin reconstruction and grafting with you. This method actually entails a number of individual procedures in which your lesions are removed and skin tissue from other body parts are grafted into the area. When this process is complete, cancerous cells are no longer there and you are cancer-free.

With the procedures in this article, your skin can be clear and healthy again. Your doctor will guide you through whichever treatment they decide is best for your skin cancer. Ask as many questions as you want so that you understand everything happening.


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