August 12th, 2009 | 
Author: Skin cancer requires immediate attention and there are several skin cancer treatment options available including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. These are the most common treatment methods and have been used successfully for a number of years. The patient’s general health condition, patient’s age and severity of the cancer determine what treatment method or combination of methods will be most effective.
Surgery is performed for many reasons which include preventative, diagnostic, staging, restorative and curative surgical techniques. Surgical removal of the skin cancer is often the method of choice in treating the disease. Once the cancerous tissue is removed, the severity and type of cancer can be determined. Skilled surgeons are able to effectively remove the cancer itself and also remove any surrounding tissue if required.
Another way that skin cancer can be successfully treated is by using radiation therapy. It also is helpful in relieving some of the symptoms associated with the disease and is often used in combination with other treatments. As medical technology becomes more advanced, radiation therapy is becoming more effective because higher radiation levels can be directed into the cancerous site without effecting normal surrounding tissue. External Beam Radiation is commonly used today and involves directing an external beam of radiation into the cancerous skin lesion. The procedure takes about eight weeks of daily radiation doses to get the desired results.
Some skin cancers respond well to chemotherapy, which is a drug regimen that destroys cancerous cells and prevents them from growing. They are administered intravenously via injection and in some cases are given orally. Chemotherapy often is accompanied by side-effects such as loss of hair and vomiting. The chemotherapy protocol is adjusted as necessary by attending physicians. Fractionated dose chemotherapy involves breaking the total chemotherapy dosage into smaller amounts and administering it over a period of approximately five days. Standard chemotherapy treatment involves administering a single large dose and is more likely to cause adverse side-effects.
Skin cancer is curable if treated early. Cancer specialists work in tandem with their patients to determine what options are best for the patient. Skin cancer treatment is necessary if the medical diagnosis indicates that cancerous tissue is present or if there is even a chance that cancer may be present.
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