Skin Cancer Treatment in Draper, UT
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the growth of abnormal skin cells caused by excessive, unprotected sun exposure, exposure to toxic chemicals, or certain medical conditions.
Different Types of Skin Cancer
Types of skin cancer include:
- Squamous cell carcinoma, which affects the upper layers of the skin, where squamous cells are located
- Basal cell carcinoma, which affects the deeper layers of skin, where basal cells are located
- Melanoma, which is an aggressive type of skin cancer occurring in the melanocytes
- Merkel cell carcinoma, which is a rare type of skin cancer, forms as a painless lump on exposed skin
Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer has several signs and symptoms, which often develop in moles. Abnormal moles that could be cancerous include those that are large, usually over 6 millimeters, irregular and asymmetrical, and have poorly defined borders. A mole that is itchy, bleeding, or oozing should also be examined.
Where To Look for Skin Cancer
Skin cancer usually develops on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms, hands, and legs.
How Skin Cancer is Diagnosed
Visiting your dermatologist regularly is an excellent way to detect skin cancer in its early stages, when it is more easily treatable, and before the cancer can spread. To diagnose skin cancer, a skin sample or mole is removed, and a biopsy is performed. During a biopsy, the sample is examined under a microscope to determine if cancerous cells are present.
Stages of Skin Cancer
Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas are typically not staged because they are often removed before they can spread. Melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma are classified into five stages:
- Stage 0, which is found in the top layer of skin and is precancerous
- Stage I, which is cancer that is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread
- Stage IIA, which is cancer that is larger than 2 centimeters and has not spread, or Stage IIB, which has spread into nearby tissues, including muscles, cartilage, or bone
- Stage IIA, which is cancer of any size that has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, or IIIB, which is cancer of any size that has spread through the lymphatic system
- Stage IV, which is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or organs, including the brain, lungs, bones, or kidneys
How Skin Cancer is Treated
Depending on the type and stage of skin cancer, your dermatologist may recommend cryosurgery to freeze cancerous cells, curettage and desiccation, scraping and applying electric current to kill cancerous cells, or Mohs micrographic surgery.
Mohs surgery involves removing a thin layer of tissue and examining it under a microscope. If cancerous cells are found, the next layer is removed. The process continues until normal cells are found.
In cases of melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma, additional treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery are often indicated. Due to the serious and aggressive nature of these types of skin cancer, early detection can be critical to survival.
Prevention of Skin Cancer
To prevent skin cancer, it’s important to wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 when you are outside, or at least SPF 50 if you are at high risk of developing skin cancer. You should also wear a hat, sunglasses, and other protective clothing, and stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when ultraviolet rays are the most intense.
Want To Know More About Skin Cancer and Skin Cancer Treatment?
To find out more about skin cancer and skin cancer treatment, call Dr. Angela Brimhall at Sage Dermatology & Mohs Surgery in Draper, UT. You can reach her in the office by calling (801) 882-9995, so call today.