One of the common types of cancer affecting most people is skin cancer. In most cases, it is caused by various predisposing factors such as exposure to harmful radiation and genetics. Similarly, skin cancer can affect people of all skin types, tones, and textures. Therefore, when you begin noting any unusual lesion or mole on any part of your skin, ensure you consult your dermatologist so that they can determine whether they are cancerous or not. You can therefore undergo plantation fl skin cancer surgery, especially if your skin cancer has been diagnosed during its early phases because the odds of having it removed for good are high. Below are facts you need to know before undergoing skin cancer surgery.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is mainly caused by harmful ultraviolet rays of light that usually damage your skin cells. In most cases, these light rays come from the sun; if exposed to them daily, you might develop skin cancer. Even though sunscreen protects you from such rays, you must understand some signs of skin cancer and schedule appointments with your dermatologist for screening. Your care provider usually offers treatment for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers.
How can skin cancer be diagnosed?
Most healthcare specialists usually offer diagnostic examinations for skin cancer, and you should ensure you regularly look at your skin and determine whether moles or suspicious lesions have started forming. In most cases, suspicious lesions and moles indicate you might have skin cancer. However, moles often suggest that you have melanoma cancer. These moles are often characterized by color variance, asymmetry, evolving features, border irregularity, and a diameter of six millimeters.
When should you consult your dermatologist?
In most cases, you are encouraged to consult your dermatologist or care provider immediately after noticing anything suspicious on your skin. Your care provider usually performs cancer screening by closely examining your lesions or moles before taking a tissue biopsy set in the lab for further studies. In most cases, a biopsy of the mole or lesion is taken and sent to the lab, where it is checked under a microscope to determine whether a sample of the cells collected is cancerous.
How can skin cancer be treated?
Depending on its severity and type, your care providers usually offer the best treatment for your skin cancer. You should also note that early detection makes the treatment easy and effective. The most common treatment options include photodynamic therapy and superficial radiation therapy. Other advanced treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer include Mohs micrographic surgery.
What is Mohs micrographic surgery?
Generally, Mohs micrographic surgery is a procedure that involves removing small portions of your skin step by step while examining the cells until all the cancer is out and you are left with healthy cells. The procedure results in less scarring and skin damage.
Therefore, you can schedule your appointment at Leading Edge Dermatology, especially if you have been diagnosed with skin cancer and are after the best treatment option that causes less skin damage and scarring. In that case, Mohs skin surgery is your best option because it not only causes less skin damage but also ensures all the cancer cells are removed because, in every step, the margins of the removed cells are studied to ensure all cancer cells have been removed. Therefore, do not hesitate to seek treatment for your skin cancer because the more you delay, the more it spreads, making it difficult to treat.