Skin Cancer Treatment

Types of Skin Cancer

The three most common types of skin cancer are:
Basal cell cancer (carcinoma)
Squamous cell cancer
Malignant melanoma

Skin Cancer Signs

These skin cancers can vary in appearance. They can appear as:
Pink spots
Lighter spots
Bumps
Depressions
Tan or Pigmented spots
Rough spots
Skin lesions that bleed or have dried blood on them

Considering the wide variety of presentations, it is important that you examine your skin each month for any changing lesions. We recommend that rather than trying to decide yourself whether you have a skin cancer it is better if you note any suspicious skin lesions or changing lesions and come in for evaluation. In general, the earlier skin cancer is diagnosed the easier the treatment.

Mohs Procedure

Patients often ask whether they should have a Mohs procedure to remove skin cancer. The added complexity of Mohs is not needed for most basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. It has not been shown to be helpful for invasive melanomas. When Dr Carniol believes that it is appropriate, he will send you for excision by Mohs, which can be followed by reconstruction.

Basal Cell Cancers

Frequently basal cell cancers can be the most insidious. If left untreated, they can ulcerate and bleed. Typically, they do not spread until they invade into deeper tissue layers. Other skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma tend to spread to other locations quicker than basal cell cancers.

One example of how skin cancers can be insidious was several years ago Dr Carniol saw a lady with a non-healing facial wound after, an automobile accident. She was interested in having a procedure to improve her facial scars. Since the wound had not completely healed in months, Dr Carniol performed a biopsy of the wound and found a basal cell carcinoma in the wound. Dr Carniol then removed the basal cell carcinoma at the same time as he preformed the scar revision. The auto accident did not cause the basal cell carcinoma. It just happened to be in the facial area injured in the accident.

Skin Cancer Prevention

Cumulative sun exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancers. Dr. Carniol asks all of his patients to avoid excessive sun exposure and use a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB. Also he advises against “sun bathing” as well as not sitting out on the beach or by the pool in the, most direct, midday sun.