Your Skin Cancer Treatment Options
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in Tampa Bay. The Florida sun can be damaging to your health if you don’t take proper precautions.
The good news is that skin cancer is highly curable when found and treated early. In most cases, your treatment can be done on an outpatient basis.
You might have different doctors on your skin cancer treatment team. Most squamous and basal cell cancers, as well as pre-cancers, can be treated by dermatologists. If your cancer is more advanced, however, you may be treated by another type of specialist, such as:
- A Mohs surgeon: with surgery
- A radiation oncologist: with radiation therapy
Skin Cancer Treatments
Dermatology Skin Cancer Treatments
Early forms of squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer can be treated by dermatologists using light-based treatments, liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery) curettage, laser treatments and topical creams. These cancers can also be removed by performing Mohs micrographic surgery. For patients who are not surgical candidates, radiation therapy can be recommended.
If melanoma is diagnosed in its earliest stages, a dermatologist may be able to surgically remove it in their office. However, if it has spread beyond the top layer of the skin, the melanoma may have to be removed by a surgical oncologist or a general surgeon. Treatment may also include chemotherapy, radiation and/or immunotherapy treatments.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is accepted as an effective method for removing some types of skin cancer, such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It is performed by a Mohs dermatologist, who removes the cancer, layer by layer and in stages, while keeping as much of the healthy tissue that surrounds it as possible.
Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer
At Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology, our team of radiation oncologists offers you excellent cancer treatment options, such as Leipzig and Valencia applicators with High Dose (HDR) Radiation. This highly successful treatment is the least invasive skin cancer treatment option available to patients with small, superficial cancers, especially basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas on the face.
Besides curing the small squamous or basal cell skin cancers, radiation therapy can delay the advancement of cancers. It’s also highly useful when combined with other treatments. For example, it can be used after surgery as an ancillary treatment to kill any areas of remaining cancer cells that may not have been visible or removed during surgery. This helps lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Radiation can also be useful to help treat skin cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes and other organs.
More than a thousand men and women diagnosed with cancer each year turn to our trusted team of cancer specialists. We encourage you to call us at 850-610-3743, ask us a question, or consult with us to get a second opinion, so you too can experience the difference.