Are you suffering from skin disorders that appear cancerous and in need of a specialized diagnosis and treatment? Don’t worry, you can test if the condition is cancerous at the dermatologist’s office. You can visit Glen Allen Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, which has a team of health care professionals who work together towards holistic skin cancer care. They will educate you on skin cancer treatment options that are available and ways to prevent the condition. Here are conventional treatments for skin cancer:
Surgery
Skin cancer surgery removes the tumor and the surrounding tissues. The surgical procedure used will depend on your condition. The dermatologist will determine the type of skin cancer, the size of the affected area, and the tumor’s location. They will advise about possible skin cancer surgery side effects such as pain in the surgery area, numbness, skin stretching and infection, and wounds.
Radiation Therapy For Skin Cancer
Radiation therapy can destroy the skin and cancer cells in the body. Radiation is used in cases where the skin cancer cells are located in places that are hard to treat, like in the eyelid or on the nose. This form of therapy is best after surgery has been conducted for lymph nodes as it prevents skin cancer from coming back. For skin cancer radiation to be more effective, you will have to go through a series of treatments over some prescribed number of times recommended by the dermatologist. However, it is not suitable for patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. Skin cancer radiation has some side effects like rash, skin infections, skin inflammation, or skin color change. Still, it can always be prevented by the application of corticosteroids or antibiotics on the skin.
Laser Therapy
If you are suffering from a precancerous skin condition or have a cancerous lesion on the top layer of the skin, the doctors may prefer laser therapy. The high-intensity narrow beam light can work on destroying the cancer cells on your skin.
Cryotherapy
This form of skin cancer therapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy abnormal cells on the skin. The doctors can highly recommend this method if you are suffering from precancerous conditions. For cryotherapy to be effective, you will need more than one application, depending on the doctor’s prescription. The only side effect related to cryotherapy is the skin scar that comes as a result of skin peeling.
Medication
Doctors only prescribe medications, and you should know the purpose of the medication and the possible side effects. Targeted therapy that destroys cancer’s specific genes and tissue environment facilitate cancer cells’ growth and survival in your body. Immunotherapy as a form of medication works to boost your body’s natural defense so that it can fight cancer.
Several skin cancer treatments can be used to treat your cancer, but it depends on the size and the area that is affected. You can talk with a skin cancer expert about the possible side effects and how you can best deal with them.
