Skin Cancer Types and Treatments

Skin cancer diagnosis starts with determining the type of skin cancer. The reason it is important to determine the type of cancer is because the type impacts the treatment options that may be available to you. Patients may be diagnosed with:

Actinic keratosis, or pre-cancers
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant melanoma

Skin cancer diagnosis involves a visual examination of the skin by one of our experienced dermatologists. If we suspect skin cancer, we take a small skin sample (known as a biopsy) and analyze it to confirm whether cancerous cells are present.

Pre-Cancers

Pre-cancers, or actinic keratosis, are very common skin lesions that may eventually turn into squamous cell skin cancer. More than 50 million Americans are estimated to have some of what are often called AKs.

Pre-cancers develop because of chronic sun exposure and a combination of genetic risk factors like skin type and environmental factors such as where you live.

Midwest Dermatology can’t predict which pre-cancers will turn into something more serious, so we typically remove AKs with treatments like:

Liquid nitrogen spray that destroys the pre-cancerous cells
Electrodessication, in which the AK is “zapped” and then simply peeled away.
Prescription cream that helps boost the body’s immune system and shrink AKs from the inside out.

If left untreated, pre-cancers can turn into squamous cell skin cancer, which can be disfiguring and even cause death.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, affecting nearly 3 million Americans each year. Basal cell carcinoma develops when the basal cells that line the deepest layer of the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin, grow uncontrollably.

Midwest Dermatology treats basal cell skin cancer with:

Mohs surgery, a specialized surgical procedure that traces the edges of the cancer microscopically to ensure that it is completely removed. Mohs surgery is used in highly visible areas such as the face where maximum tissue conservation ensures a good cosmetic and functional outcome, and when skin cancer types are particularly aggressive.
Standard excision surgery, where the cancerous cells are scraped or cut away. Excision is excellent option if the cancer is located in an areas of the body that do not require complex cosmetic repair such as the back and arms.

Basal cell skin cancer almost never spreads to vital organs, but if left untreated, it can damage surrounding skin tissue and even bone and cartilage under the cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer, affecting about 700,000 Americans each year. Squamous cell carcinoma develops when the squamous cells in the epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin, turn abnormal and grow uncontrollably.

Midwest Dermatology treats squamous cell skin cancer with:

Mohs surgery, a specialized surgical procedure that traces the edges of the cancer microscopically. Mohs is the preferred manner of removal for most squamous cell carcinomas because physicians are able to ensure the complete removal of all cancer cells to greatly reduce the chance for recurrence.
Standard excision surgery. A wide excision removing the cancer and some surrounding skin can be very effective, but may not be desirable if the skin cancer is located in an area that is highly visible or hard to repair.

Squamous cell skin cancer can spread rapidly, and if left untreated, it can cause severe damage to skin tissue and even death.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most rare and serious form of skin cancer. It accounts for about 5 percent of all skin cancer cases, and the number of cases has been rising steadily for the last 30 years.

It develops when the melanocytes, cells that produce color in the skin and are responsible for moles, start multiplying rapidly and develop into tumors. Some melanomas develop out of moles, and many cases are linked to heavy sun exposure – like very bad childhood sunburns.

Midwest Dermatology physicians treat melanoma with excisional surgery. Our dermatologists remove the cancerous tissue by surgically removing the cancer and surrounding tissue. The wound is closed with stitches. Advanced melanoma may also be treated with chemotherapy or radiation by other cancer specialists.

Unlike other skin cancers, melanoma can spread deep into the body and may affect other organs. It’s important to watch for the ABCDEs and contact Midwest Dermatology if you see a suspicious growth.

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