Repairing The Damage of Skin Cancer

Suspicious-looking lesions should be surgically removed

When signs of skin damage appear--for example, a small actinic keratosis--steps can be taken to stop further growth. Dermatologists can apply liquid nitrogen as a spray or as a tiny "dab" to the actinic keratosis. In addition, if there are multiple such lesions, 5-flouro-uracil (5-F-U) can be applied in a schedule guided by a dermatologist. This eliminates all overt lesions and early lesions that are not yet visible. This procedure causes the affected area to turn bright red and develop an itching sensation, but the procedure is successful in almost every case to eliminate the lesions and prevent the skin cancer from spreading.

Suspicious-looking lesions should be surgically removed before they have time to become more advanced forms of skin cancer. All moles, especially those that are blue-black and slightly raised, should be removed. A newly discovered, localized basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, or melanoma should be promptly removed.

Surgical removal of skin cancer often involves a procedure in which the edges of the area surrounding the newly removed cancer are sampled and sent to a laboratory for immediate evaluation and report to the surgeon. If cancer cells remain in these unclosed edges, the process is repeated, and more skin is removed until the edges are found to be free of cancer cells. The skin edges are then pulled together and sewn with material that is absorbed by the body during the following weeks, leaving very little scarring or other evidence of the surgery.

FOLLOWUP TREATMENT MAY BE NECESSARY

If squamous-cell carcinoma or melanoma has spread to nearby tissues or to lymph tissues, more complicated followup treatment is necessary.

If recurrence develops after primary treatment of cancer, followup treatment can consist of further surgery at the margins of the original surgery. This may involve dissection and removal of tissues or lymph nodes into which cancer has spread. (Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, a network of fluid containing white blood cells that drains blood vessels of waste products.)

Further measures can be applied if, after primary and secondary treatment, there is evidence that cancer still exists in the cells. These measures include radiation therapy (X-rays) and administration of anti-cancer drugs and/or advanced immunologic techniques, some of which are still under development.

Usually, skin cancer is readily visible on the skin, and almost all skin cancer can be successfully treated before it begins to spread. Medical examination should be sought at the first sign of skin changes that are consistent with early forms of skin cancer. Early treatment (removal by surgery or other means) of skin cancer can almost always bring about a complete cure.

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