What is Skin Cancer Treatment?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Skin Cancer Treatment?
The various forms of treatments used like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemical peel treatment, and other drug therapies to treat skin cancer are known as skin cancer treatments.
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of the cells of the skin. Skin cancer often affects the areas that are exposed to sunlight, but it can also develop in places that do not get sun exposure.
There are several different types of skin cancers, including actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, etc.
Skin cancer is spreading rapidlay in the world, and many cases of skin cancer have been reported in India as well. However, many people do not have accurate information about skin cancer and its treatment.
Let us tell you in detail about skin cancer and skin cancer treatment in today’s article.
- What are the different types of Skin Cancer?
- What are the symptoms of Skin Cancer?
- What are the causes of Skin Cancer?
- What are the risk factors for Skin Cancer?
- How to diagnose Skin Cancer?
- What are the various Skin Cancer Treatments?
- What are the complications of Skin Cancer Treatment?
- How to prevent Skin Cancer?
- What is the cost of Skin Cancer Treatment in India?
What are the different types of Skin Cancer?
The different types of skin cancers are:
Basal cell carcinoma:
- This type of skin cancer normally occurs in the sun-exposed areas of the body like the face and the neck.
- This is the most common type of skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma:
- This kind of skin cancer is usually seen in the outer layers of the skin and is more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma.
- It is usually seen in sun-exposed areas of the body like the face, hands, and ears.
- People who have darker skin are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma in body areas that are not exposed to the sun. ( Know more about- What is Cancer? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment )
Melanoma:
- Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but, is the most dangerous.
- It can occur on the normal skin, or in an existing mole that has become cancerous.
- In the case of men, it is mostly seen in the trunk or the face. In the case of women, it is usually seen in the lower legs.
- It usually occurs on skin that has not been exposed to sunlight.
- Melanoma can affect people with any skin tone.
- In people who have a darker skin tone color, melanoma is usually seen on the soles or the palms, or underneath the toenails or fingernails. ( Know more about- What is Varicose Vein Surgery? Purpose, Tests, Procedure, Cost )
What are the symptoms of Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer can usually develop as a lump.
The symptoms of skin cancer depend on the type of skin cancer the patient is suffering from. The symptoms related to the type of cancer are mentioned below:
Basal cell carcinoma:
- Raised, smooth, pearly, and translucent bumps on the skin.
- Pink or red growth with a crusted center.
- Appearance of small blood vessels on a lump or wound.
Squamous cell carcinoma:
- Red scaly patches with irregular borders.
- Ulceration and bleeding in these patches.
- Having a dome-shaped growth with a rough surface and an indented center.
Melanoma:
- Moles that are asymmetrical and irregular.
- There may be a change in the color or diameter of the mole.
- Redness, itching, ulceration, bleeding. ( Know more about- What are Skin Lesions? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
- There may be spots or growths of different colors, varying from brown to black.
What are the causes of Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer can occur due to many reasons.
- Excessive exposure to the sun may damage the skin cells. ( Know more about- Home Remedies to Treat Sunburn )
- Having a large number of warts in the body increases the risk of skin cancer.
- Exposure to chemicals like coal and tar can cause skin cancer.
- Having a genetic factor can increase the chances of getting skin cancer.
What are the risk factors for Skin Cancer?
Some factors may increase the risk of developing skin cancer. These factors include:
- Fair skin
- Excessive exposure to the sun
- History of sunburns
- Presence of moles
- Sunny climate
- Family history of skin cancer
- A weak immune system
- Radiation exposure
- Presence of precancerous skin lesions
- Exposure to chemicals like coal, tar, and arsenic
How to diagnose Skin Cancer?
Physical examination:
- The dermatologist will first perform a physical examination to look for cancerous lumps on the patient’s skin.
- If any lumps are found, the dermatologist carefully examines its size, color, shape, etc.
- The doctor also asks about the patient’s medical and family history.\
Biopsy:
- A biopsy involves the excision of a suspected tissue growth, which is later sent to the laboratory for testing.
- A biopsy helps to diagnose or rule out skin cancer.
- If skin cancer is diagnosed, a biopsy helps in determining what type of skin cancer the patient has.
- If the skin cancer detected is a basal cell cancer, a biopsy alone cannot determine the extent of cancer, as it has not spread in most cases.
- If the cancer is found to be squamous cell cancer or melanoma, further tests may be needed to determine the extent of cancer, as they are capable of metastasizing (spread of the cancer cells to other parts of the body).
Imaging tests:
- Imaging tests like x-rays, CT scan, or MRI scan may be needed to determine the presence of cancer in the neighboring cells and lymph nodes.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy:
- If the cancer is suspected to have spread to the neighboring areas of the body, a nearby lymph node may be excised and sent to the laboratory to check for signs of cancer. ( Know more about- What is Full Body Checkup? )
What are the various Skin Cancer Treatments?
Cancer can be treated using several techniques depending on the type and extent of cancer.
Cryosurgery:
- The doctor will destroy actinic keratosis (a rough and scaly patch on the skin caused due to years of exposure to the sun) and early cases of skin cancer by freezing them using liquid nitrogen.
- The dead tissue then sloughs off on thawing.
Surgical excision:
- In this procedure, a surgical knife is used to cut the tumor along with some tissue.
- A diagnostic test is then performed to ensure that the entire tumor has been removed.
- This procedure can be performed for any type of skin cancer.
Mohs surgery:
- This procedure consists of a microscopically controlled surgery in which the tumor is removed layer by layer, along with a small piece of tissue which is then examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
- If cancer cells are present, some more tissue is removed and examined, and this is continued until no more cancer cells are found.
- This procedure is performed for recurring, large, or difficult-to-treat skin cancer cases.
Curettage and Electrodesiccation:
- In this procedure, the skin is repeatedly scraped with a long sharp instrument called a curette, and then the remaining cancer cells are destroyed with an electric needle (electrode).
- This procedure may be used in the treatment of basal cell cancers or thin squamous cell carcinomas.
Radiation therapy:
- High-powered energy beams are used in this procedure to kill the cancer cells.
- This procedure may be performed when cancer cannot be completely removed by surgery.
Chemotherapy:
- Certain drugs are used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
- In cases of skin cancers that are limited to the top layer of the skin only, certain medicated creams or lotions may be applied directly on the skin.
- Systemic chemotherapy (drugs given to travel to all the parts of the body through the bloodstream) is used to treat skin cancers that have spread to the other parts of the body. ( Know more about- What is Chemotherapy? Purpose, Types, Procedure, Side effects, Cost )
Photodynamic therapy:
- This procedure is used to destroy the cancer cells by using a combination of drugs and laser light.
Biological therapy:
- The body’s immune system is used for killing the cancer cells.
What are the complications of Skin Cancer Treatment?
The side effects of skin cancer treatment depend on how extensive the procedure used for treatment.
Some of the complications that could occur due to skin cancer treatment are:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Change in the texture of the skin
- Bleeding ( Know more about- What is Blood in Stools? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Numbness
- Fatigue
- Lymphedema (swelling in the arms or legs due to the damage or removal of the lymph nodes)
- Metastasis (cancer cells spread to other parts of the body)
- Risk of recurrence of cancer
If you notice any of the complications post-skin cancer treatment, contact your doctor immediately.
How to prevent Skin Cancer?
Some of the following measures can help reduce the risk of skin cancer:
- Avoid going out during the day as the harmful rays of the sun can damage the skin.
- Use sunscreen while going out of the house to protect the skin from damage.
- Use a lip balm.
- If a person has to go out in the sun, he should wear full sleeve clothes and a hat to protect himself from sun rays.
- Sunglasses can be used to protect the eyes from the sun. With this, you can protect the skin from cancer.
- Avoid the use of tanning beds and sun lamps.
- If you notice any abnormalities in the skin, then immediately contact the doctor and get proper treatment.
What is the cost of Skin Cancer Treatment in India?
The total cost of skin cancer treatment in India can range from around INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for skin cancer treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of skin cancer treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 5 days and in the hotel for 15 days for recovery. So, the total cost of skin cancer treatment in India will be around INR 4,00,000 to INR 8,00,000.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding skin cancer treatment through this article.
If you need more information and treatment for skin cancer, you can contact an Oncologist/Cancer Specialist.
We only aim to provide you with information through the article. We do not recommend any medicine or treatment to anyone. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
