The American Cancer Society explains that two types of skin cancer exist: non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma is the most common, and begins in the cells of the outer layer of skin. Melanoma, the more serious, begins in the cells responsible for pigmentation. Treatment is available for both these types of skin cancers; treatment options depend on the severity of the cancer and the overall health of the person receiving the it.
Surgery
Surgery is an option that doctors use approximately 90 percent of the time as a treatment for skin cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cryosurgery, or freezing the tumor, kills the cancer cells and is an option for those with early-stage skin cancer.
Laser surgery is a good choice for people with superficial skin cancer. The Mayo Clinic describes this procedure, explaining that an intense beam of light vaporizes the growth with little damage or scarring to surrounding tissue.
Doctors may also use Mohs surgery, a procedure that removes the cancer, layer by layer. Every layer is then examined under a microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This process is ideal for large, recurring or hard-to-treat cancers, and applies to both non-melanoma and melanoma skin types.
Curettage and electrodesiccation is a procedure in which layers of cancer cells are scraped away with a curette, a sharp, circular blade, leaving the surrounding non-cancerous skin intact. Electrodesiccation is the additional application of an electric current to control bleeding and kill the remaining cancer cells. This process is quick and simple, and is commonly used to treat small non-melanoma skin cancers.
Radiation Therapy
In certain situations when surgery may not be an option, radiation therapy is used. Radiation uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. The length of time and number of weeks a person undergoes radiation therapy depends on the extent of the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy works by giving the patient high-dose drugs that travel through the blood stream, destroying cancer cells along the way. For patients with skin cancer, the administration of these drugs varies. Rather than taking them orally or intravenously, the patient applies the drugs topically. The drug comes in the form of either a lotion or cream, and may cause inflammation at the site, or result in scarring.
Photodynamic Therapy
This treatment combines laser light and drugs to make cancer cells sensitive to light, resulting in the destruction of cancer cells. The Mayo Clinic warns to avoid direct sunlight for a minimum of six weeks once treatment is complete, as this treatment increases skin's sensitivity to light.
