Skin Cancer Treatment

Patients ask me all the time, “Do I need to see a Plastic Surgeon?” In short, there is no simple, universal answer to that question. First, let’s take a look at some facts that may help one understand the situation a little better. First, let’s look at volume–who treats the most skin cancer. Experienced Surgeon:…

I am a Dermatologist and I treat skin cancer every day and talk about preventing skin cancer. Everyone knows that sun avoidance, sun protective clothing, and applying a good sunscreen is the best way to reduce the risk of getting skin cancer. I have a secret for you–most patients do not do a good job…

Actinic keratosis is a pre-malignant condition that, if untreated, can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. In most cases, this is caused by chronic, repeated Sun-exposure. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU or Efudex or Carac) is an old treatment for actinic keratosis that has been used for decades, but is it best? In short, yes if used correctly. What…

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74% of persons using black salve were not aware of the possible side effects of the remedy, including infection, scarring, and disfigurement. Black salve can destroy the top layer of skin, but most cancers lie beneath this layer and continue to grow….

Every day a patient contacts me as a nearby Dermatology group is running a television advertisement of a new treatment for skin cancer that does not require surgery. Interestingly, every patient says it is a laser.  Well, this is not the case. This “new” treatment is not new at all. It is electron beam treatment,…

Photodynamic Therapy Photodynamic therapy, or “PDT”, is a therapy in which a chemical is applied to the skin and left to dry for some time and the skin is then exposed to a light source. PDT is used to treat many condition, including wet age-related macular degeneration, pre-cancers of the skin (actinic keratosis), basal cell…

Radiation This treatment is quite costly (often in excess of $15,000) and is usually reserved for those who are late-middle aged or elderly who are not good surgical candidates or do not wish to undergo surgery. Healing can be excellent, although 9 or more treatment sessions are needed, depending upon the depth of the tumor…

5-Fluorouracil Cream (Efudex®, Carac®). This chemotherapy cream has been used for decades for the treatment of actinic keratosis, which are pre-cancerous growths. It is also FDA approved for the treatment of non-facial superficial basal cell carcinomas (ones that are not on the face). Treatment results in mild to severe skin irritation, appearing as redness and…

Imiquimod (Aldara®) Cancer cells are not normal cells and therefore the body can recognize the change and can kill the atypical cells. Many new cancer treatments work by boosting the body’s natural immune response to help kill the atypical cancer cells. Such treatments include melanoma vaccines. Aldara, also known as imiquimod, is a topical cream…

Excision The tumor along with a margin of normal appearing skin is marked with a sterile marking pen. The area is numbed with lidocaine (Xylocaine) and adrenaline using tiny needles. The tumor is cut out with a scalpel and almost always stitched together. The removed skin is sent to a laboratory and examined to ensure…