The National Health Service, called the NHS, manages health care in the United Kingdom. The service, funded through national taxation, has separate agencies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that provide similar treatment options. The NHS offers essential services for skin cancer under a team of dermatologists, surgeons, oncologists, pathologists and counselors.
Surgery
Surgical excision removes cancerous cells and surrounding tissue to make sure all the cancer has been excised. The procedure works for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and early stages of melanoma. Skin grafts are available if surgery leaves significant scarring. A procedure called curettage and electrocautery, also called electrodesiccation, removes the tumor with a cutting instrument and uses an electric needle to kill cells in the surrounding area. The technique may be performed more than once to kill all cells. Mohs surgery removes the skin cancer in layers. Each layer is examined under a microscope until doctors are certain the cancer is gone. The surgery reduces scarring.
Radiotherapy
Low doses of radiation destroy basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. This works for patients who may receive too much scarring from surgical cutting and is often used on the face. Doctors sometimes use radiotherapy following surgery to prevent cancer from recurring.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy, also called cryosurgery, uses a freezing technique to kill early or small skin cancers. Liquid nitrogen freezes the cancerous lesion, which turns to a scab and eventually falls off.
Chemotherapy
Medication removes skin cancers limited to the top layer of the skin. Chemotherapy creams applied to the affected areas may cause some soreness for weeks afterward. However, few side effects are associated with chemotherapy treatment for skin cancer. More powerful chemotherapy drugs are used for melanoma and may be used with other therapies.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy involves acidic chemical ointments applied to basal cell carcinomas. Strong light is aimed at the area to kill the cancer cells. The treatment leaves some superficial scarring.
Immunotherapy
Interferon stimulates the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells more effectively, according to CancerHelp UK. Advanced squamous cell cancers are often treated with interferon. Imiquimod, a topical immunotherapy, also encourages the immune system to attack basal cell cancer cells. The medication makes the body produce more interferon to destroy the cells. Retinoids work for some basal cell and squamous cell cancers, as well as precancerous keratoses. The chemicals, given in tablet or cream form, may encourage the cancerous cells to turn back into normal cells.
