Removing cancers before they spread

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States and the fastest growing, with more than 500,000 new cases reported each year. The leading cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. A majority of skin cancers appear on the face, head and neck, where scars from treatment can be highly visible. Plastic Surgery Associates can treat your cancer and help restore function and a more normal appearance to the affected area.

What are the different types of skin cancer?

There are three forms of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least dangerous, as it grows slowly and rarely spreads.
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the next most common and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
• Malignant melanoma is the most rare and most dangerous form, as it spreads rapidly and is life-threatening if left untreated. Moles also may develop into malignant melanoma, and solar or actinic keratoses—rough, scaly patches on the skin that are red or brown in color—can develop into squamous cell cancer.

What is the treatment for skin cancer?

Removing small cancers usually requires a simple excision and can be done quickly on an outpatient basis. Small excisions can be closed directly. Larger excisions may require a local flap procedure, where the tissue is rearranged to close the area, or a skin graft, where a healthy patch of skin is transferred from another part of your body to cover the damaged area. If the cancer is large or has spread, your doctor will perform the procedure at one of the local hospitals.

Other treatments for skin cancer include:

• Radiation therapy
• Cryosurgery, in which the cancer cells are frozen
• Topical chemotherapy, in which anti-cancer drugs are applied to the skin
• Mohs surgery, in which the cancer is removed one layer at a time

The importance of follow-up

Follow-up is an important part of skin cancer treatments. Even if your cancer has been removed, anyone who has had one occurrence is at risk for developing another.