I’m sorry to tell you, “it’s Cancer” is probably the most frightening words your doctor could utter. Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor if you’re a tall person or are short, a newborn baby or a senior citizen. No family has been left unscathed by its’ touch. The disease is everywhere; Right now someone is searching “skin cancer surgery Lincoln Ne,” and someone else is going for a round of chemo in Lexington, Ky. Cancer comes in many forms; Ranging from solid tumors to leukemia. It attacks all systems and all areas of the human body. The type I am going to be discussing today is skin cancer.
Common Types Of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is not a type of cancer per se but is rather a category. There are many different types of skin cancer. Ranging from the highly treatable Basal Cell Carcinoma to the dreaded Melanoma. Each of these cancers requires a different plan of treatment. Treatment plans vary depending on each individual patient. Usually, with skin cancer, surgery is necessary.
Possible Surgical Procedures For Skin Cancer
There are also many different options when it comes to surgical procedures. For example, the most common surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma and pre-cancerous lesions is Curettage and electrodesiccation (commonly referred to as C&E), which involves scraping away the cancerous cells and then following that up with an electrified needle to destroy the remaining cancer cells. For more advanced stages of Basal Cell Carcinoma, another procedure is often used called Mohs surgery. The Mohs procedure was created in 1938 and named after its creator Frederic E. Mohs. The procedure involves removing the skin layer-by-layer until all the cancer is removed. The layers of skin are examined after each removal to inspect the tissue for signs the cancer is still present.
Possible Treatment Plan For Melanoma
The treatment of a Melanoma is usually multi-layered. First off, Melanoma is the most severe and deadly form of skin cancer. So, it is necessary to take more aggressive steps in combating the disease. The Mohs procedure mentioned above is very commonly used as well as radiation therapy. It is imperative that you seek help right away if you think that you may have a Melanoma. The quicker you get help, the more favorable your prognosis is likely to be.
Identifying A Melanoma
A Melanoma is usually identified as a dark “mole” with jagged or irregular edges as can be seen here. Some other telltale signs of Melanoma are oddly colored moles, oozing moles, and foul-smelling moles. Not all of these symptoms need to be present and occurring at the same time. The only way to know for sure is to go to your doctor and have the spot looked at; That goes for any mole or spot, but more specifically if you have never noticed it before. Remember only a doctor can diagnose Melanoma.