Treatment

Treatment of the various types of skin cancer require different approaches.

Basal cell carcinoma treatment varies depending on the size, depth, and location of the cancer. The following are some procedures that can be used [3]:

• Excision: The tumor is cut out.
  
• Curettage and eletrodesiccation: The cancer is scraped away and electricity is used to kill anything remaining.
• Surgery: The skin is cut out and examined under the microscope for cancer.
• Cryosurgery: The cancer cells are frozen and killed
• Radiation: Is used if the cancer has spread.
• Skin creams: Imiquimoud or 5-fluorouracil is used for superficial treatment.

Squamous cell carcinoma treatment depends on the size, location, and how much it has metastasized. The following are some procedures that can be used [3]:

• Surgery: Microscopic shavings can be used to remove visible tumors. Skin grafting maybe be needed in large areas.
• Radiation therapy: Can be used to reduce tumor size.
• Chemotherapy: Can be used if surgery and radiation fail.

Melanoma is the most difficult to treat. The following treatments can be used [3]:

• Small and shallow melanomas can be cured by surgery with or without radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
• Melanoma deeper than 4mm or in the lymph nodes require interferon after surgery.
• Melanoma that has spread beyond the skin and lymph nodes to other organs are treated by shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms. Chemotherapy and use of interferon or interleukin may be used.