Different Types of Skin Cancers And Treatments

Dealing with skin cancers is one of the many practices involved in dermatology. Skin cancer, like any other cancer, is characterized with malignant growth on the skin which can have many causes. There are several reasons why people develop skin cancers. Some studies indicated that smoking tobacco and related products can double the risk of skin cancer. According to dermatology rancho cucamonga centers, majority of its professionals have agreed that overexposure to UV-radiation may cause skin cancer either via the direct DNA damage or via the indirect DNA damage mechanism.

Types of Skin Cancers
Currently, skin cancers are categorized into 3 different types. These are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. Among the three types of skin cancers, the basal cell cancer is considered as the most common.

Basal cell cancer - Although considered as the most common, it rarely metastasizes or kills. However, being considered as malignant, basal cell cancer can cause significant destruction and disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues. According to several reports, 3 out of 10 Caucasians develop a basal cell cancer within their lifetime. 80% of basal cell cancer are said to appear on the head and neck.
Squamous cell cancer - Like basal cell, squamous cell cancers are quite common. Although similar to basal cell cancers, squamous cell appear less often, yet metastasize more frequently. Unlike the basal cell, squamous cell affects not only the skin, but also internally. Other common affected areas include the lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix.
Melanoma - Usually associated with melanocytic nevus or moles (because of its similar features), melanoma appear rarely compared to basal cell and squamous cell cancers. Although considered as less common types of skin cancer, according to several dermatologists from dermatology rancho cucamonga centers, melanomas causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. Malignant melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer.

Treatments
There are several treatments currently used today to cure skin cancers. Treatments used for skin cancers are usually dependent on the case, such as the type of skin cancer, its location, age of the patient, and if the cancer is primary or recurrence. An example would be a small basal cell cancer on the cheek of a young man, where the treatment with the best cure rate (Mohs surgery) might be indicated. In the case of an elderly frail man with multiple complicating medical problems, a difficult to excise basal cell cancer of the nose might warrant radiation therapy (slightly lower cure rate) or no treatment at all.

For low-risk skin cancer
Radiation therapy, topical chemotherapy, and cryotherapy can provide adequate control of the disease; both, however, may have lower overall cure rates than certain type of surgery. Other modalities of treatment such as photodynamic therapy, topical chemotherapy, electrodessication and curettage can be found in the discussions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Moh's Surgery
This is a technique used to remove the cancer with the least amount of surrounding tissue and the edges are checked immediately to see if tumor is found. According to several practitioners of dermatology rancho cucamonga centers, Moh's Surgery provides the opportunity to remove the least amount of tissue and provide the best cosmetically favorable results.