Bouncing Back from Back Surgery

Skin cancer is often curable if treatment is received early. However, as the cancer is permitted to grow, successful treatment becomes more intensive, and the damage to healthy tissues becomes increasingly detrimental. 

If a person with skin cancer receives no treatment for the condition, the cancer may metastasize, spreading to the other areas of the body. If the cancer spreads sufficiently, it can cause death. Thus, if you develop a growth or discoloration on your skin that looks suspicious, you should have the area assessed by a physician as soon as possible. 

The doctor may obtain a sample of tissue to examine microscopically and determine whether the cells are benign or malignant. If a malignancy is found, the doctor may treat the skin cancer with one of the following options.

Excisional Procedure

An excisional procedure is a surgery in which the doctor cuts the tumor from the skin using a scalpel. The physician usually removes the entire tumor along with a bit of surrounding tissue to help ensure that no cancer cells are left in place. 

Once the tumor has been removed, the physician may use stitches or bandages to close the open area. The excised tissue is sent to a laboratory for review. If no cancer cells are found in the marginal tissue that was presumed healthy, the treatment may be sufficient. However, if cancer is found in the surrounding cells, a subsequent surgery may be needed. 

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery uses light beams set at designated wavelengths to eradicate skin cancer cells. The procedure does not cause bleeding and allows the doctor to control the depth of the tissue removal. Depending on the type of laser that is used, the cancer cells may be vaporized or destroyed by the heat of the laser.

Electrosurgery

During electrosurgery, the doctor removes a portion of the cancer cells by scraping them away. Then, they use an electrocautery tool to burn or cauterize the cancer cells that may be left.

Cryosurgery

During cryosurgery, the doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the cancerous tissue. The liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the site or applied with a cotton swab. After being frozen, the tumor and a bit of the surrounding tissue may start to harden or blister and fall off. 

Cryosurgery is noninvasive and does not require any anesthesia. Still, you may experience a bit of stinging as the procedure is performed.

If you suspect that you have skin cancer, schedule an appointment with a physician in your local area. Visit a site like http://swoncology.net/ for more information.