Mohs surgeryis an additional option to reduce scarring.
The treatment of melanoma also includes surgery, but typically with a wider excision.
A team of doctors will work with you to determine your best skin cancer treatment plan.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Surgery to remove the tumor is the standard treatment, but numerous other options are available as well.
This is frequently done for smaller basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.
The surgeon begins by excising visible cancer.
If so, further surgery is done, followed by microscopic evaluation until all margins are clear.
In some cases, many small excisions of tissue are done before clear margins are found.
A wide excision is recommended whenever possible.
For this surgery, a wide elliptical incision is made, with consideration of the skin lines.
If a large amount of tissue is removed, closing withskin graftsorskin flapsmay be required.
That said, reconstruction may need to be done in stages as healing occurs.
Reconstructive procedures can do wonders in restoring appearance in even very extensive surgeries.
These therapies are also sometimes used if there is no evidence that cancer has spread.
With early-stage melanomas (stage 0 and stage I), surgery may be the only treatment needed.
When treatments are used in this way, they are considered adjuvant therapies.
There are several treatments that classify as immunotherapies.
Many other treatments are being tested, including therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic viruses.
Immunotherapy may also be used for locally advanced or metastatic BCC or SCC.
Side effects of these treatments vary.
Occasionally, side effects from immunotherapy can include a change in blood pressure or increased fluid in the lungs.
Adverse reactions can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapyis the use of drugs to kill any rapidly dividing cells in the body.
When given for metastatic disease, chemotherapy cannot cure cancer but can often prolong life and reducesymptoms.
Radiation may also be given internally via seeds that are implanted in the body (brachytherapy).
Radiation may also be used for BCC and SCC.
The treatment of cancer is changingveryrapidly.
Though these individuals remain the exceptions and not the norm, this is promising.
It’s important to talk to your oncologist before taking any over-the-counter or nutritional supplements.
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