Melanoma and Related Cancers

There are several kinds of treatments for skin cancer. The most common is surgery, which is used about 90 percent of the time. A doctor can determine the most appropriate surgical procedure to remove the cancer, and if appropriate, replace skin that is damaged when the cancer is removed. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, additional therapy, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may be recommended.

Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery, a highly effective treatment for certain types of skin cancer, provides the most precise method for removal of all cancerous tissue, while sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue. It has the best cure rate for basal cell carcinoma and is useful in treating tumors on or near the nose, eyes, ears, forehead, scalp, fingers, and genital area. Mohs surgery is especially useful in treating large tumors, tumors in certain critical locations, and those that have come back after other treatments. Mohs surgery is offered at Sylvester, is completed in just one office visit, and has a nearly 100 percent cure rate.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells in a localized area. Radiation therapy is generally divided into daily doses and is directed at the body by a machine.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, given as a cream or lotion or taken by pill or needle injection, interferes with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or reproduce. Biological therapy, also called immunotherapy, uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer or lessen the side effects of cancer treatment. These drugs that mimic or imitate substances produced by the body in small amounts to fight infection can help prevent the recurrence of melanoma.

The specific treatment a doctor prescribes will depend on several factors, and may involve a combination of treatment therapies.

Sources: Greystone.net, National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control