Skin Cancer Treatment - An Update
This information is of a general nature only and is for public information and education. Your individual problem needs to be assessed by your family doctor who will advise you on appropriate further steps.
Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC) are common skin cancers that occur in sun exposed parts of the body. Early signs may be a scaly or reddish patch.Seek attention, if a patch persists, or clears up and then recurs. Treatment includes cryotherapy (dry “ice” on the skin) or topical agents (creams to be rubbed on the area). These may be effective and can be used for one or two courses of treatment.
If the lesion persists, carbon dioxide laser is often effective, and involves close post treatment monitoring.
If there is a recurrence, then surgery, to remove the lesion, is required. This may also involve reconstruction of the defect, for restoration of normal function and appearance.
Recurrence after surgery, due to incomplete excision, requires further expert assessment and treatment.
The best guarantee of success is early diagnosis and good initial treatment.
