Depending on the type, location, and size of the skin cancer, it can be treated in many different ways. Luckily basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most frequent kinds of skin cancer, and most are curable.
Treatment Options include
Simple Excision: involves the injection of local anesthesia such as lidocaine under the skin. Then the tumor is removed with a certain margin of normal skin. The wound is then stitched together in a line. The specimen is sent to a lab where it is analyzed to ensure that all the cancer was removed.
Mohs Surgery: is performed if there is still cancer remaining after an excision is done or if a biopsy was done to get a sample of a lesion and shows an aggressive or high-risk cancer. Please see our Mohs Surgery link for more details.
Curettage and Electrodessication: involves scraping the skin away with a ring-shaped instrument and burning the lesion to destroy the tissue. The skin is numbed prior to the procedure so there is minimal pain. These wounds tend to heal on their own without needing stitches.
