Dec 12 2009
Understanding and Preventing Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States with over one million diagnosed annually. Fortunately, most skin cancers are not life threatening and can be easily treated. The most dangerous type, melanoma, can be lethal and kill thousands of people every year. The key to treatment of skin cancers is prevention and early detection.
Treatment for skin cancer depends on the type, location, size, and desires of the patient. For melanoma, aggressive treatment is necessary and guidelines have been developed to try to elucidate appropriate treatment. For other forms of skin cancer, cryotherapy to freeze the tumor, surgical excision with either conventional excision techniques or Mohs micrographic surgery, or certain topical medications which can burn the tumors.
If surgical excision is the treatment of choice, for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas in sensitive areas such as the face, eyes, ears, nose, and lips, Mohs micrographic surgery may be necessary. Mohs surgery is named after Dr. Frederic Mohs, an early 20th century surgeon who developed a special technique of examining pathologic skin specimens. The procedures allows for presevervation of as much normal tissue as possible.
As with any cancer though, prevention is the best medicine. Use of sunscreens and avoidance of excess ultraviolet radiation (including tanning beds) are the two best methods for helping to prevent skin cancers from forming. There are many factors which play into skin cancer development though, including genetics, so regular mole checks are necessary to catch any skin cancers at an early stage.
The sooner a skin cancer is diangosed and treated, the better the outcome. For patients with a significant sun exposure history, a person or family history of skin cancer, and fair skin, yearly skin examinations by a primary care physician or dermatologist is necessary.
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categories: skin cancer,mohs surgery,medicine,health