Basal Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Malignant Melanoma
Excision of small skin cancer growth
Thin scar from skin cancer excision.
Flap reconstruction after skin cancer excision.
Hidden scar after flap reconstruction.
Skin cancer affects more than half a million patients each year, and in addition to being a serious health concern, skin cancer can also disfigure the face, head and neck if not treated by an experienced skin cancer surgeon.
About Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer Causes
How can you avoid skin cancer?
Skin cancer usually occurs as a result of UV radiation, which may be from sun exposure or indoor tanning booths. Patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II (fair skin, light hair and eyes, freckles and sunburns easily occur) are more prone to developing skin cancer.
Additionally, patients who spend a lot of time outdoors, do not use adequate sun protection products on their skin or have been severely sunburned in their lifetime are also more likely to develop skin cancer.
Higher altitudes and geographic locations closer to the equator also receive more intense UV radiation than other areas, so it is especially important for people in these locations to be vigilant about sun protection to avoid skin cancer.
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Skin Cancer Symptoms
Recognizing different types of skin cancer
The three types of skin cancer, from most common to least common, include:
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
Although every type of skin cancer is dangerous and can become life-threatening if left untreated, basal cell carcinoma is typically regarded as the least dangerous type because it grows slowly and rarely spreads. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as a shiny or pearly nodule.
Squamous cell carcinoma frequently appears on the lips, face or ears as a red, scaly area of crusted nodules or as a sore that doesn't heal. Squamous cell carcinoma sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and internal organs.
Malignant melanoma, although the least common type of skin cancer, is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Skin growths with blurred, ragged edges, asymmetry and mottled color should be checked for malignant melanoma. If discovered early enough, it can be completely cured. If left untreated, malignant melanoma can spread quickly and result in death.
Moles, actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous rough, scaly, red or brown patches) and other skin growths should be regularly checked for skin cancer symptoms. For moles, watch for the "ABCD" warning signs of melanoma:
- Asymmetry
- Border irregularity
- Color (changes or mottling)
- Diameter (growth)
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Skin Cancer Treatment
Diagnosing and treating skin cancer
Regular skin cancer screenings with your family doctor are a dermatologist are a good way to prevent skin cancer. Also, if you notice a suspicious skin growth, having it examined can help you detect skin cancer before it is too late. Skin cancer is diagnosed by biopsy - removing all or part of the growth and examining its cells under a microscope.
A variety of skin cancer treatment methods are available once you have been diagnosed, depending on the type of cancer, its stage of growth, and its location on your body.
Surgical excision under local anesthesia is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure to remove small cancerous growths. Curettage and desiccation may also be performed instead of simple excision, which involve scraping out cancer cells with an electric current to control bleeding and killing any remaining cancer cells. for larger cancers or cancer that has spread, major surgery may be needed.
Other skin cancer treatments may include:
- Cryosurgery (freezing cancer cells)
- Radiation
- Topical chemotherapy
- Mohs surgery (cancer is shaved off one layer at a time)
Some cancer treatments may include reconstructive surgery, such as Mohs surgery, and require a highly skilled plastic surgeon.
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Recovery After Skin Cancer Treatment
Healing and preventing skin cancer recurrence after treatment
There is no downtime needed after minor skin cancer excision, however major cancer surgery and reconstruction after cancer removal will require at least a week off work, if not longer.
If flap reconstruction is performed at the same time as cancer removal, your recovery may be a bit longer or require more significant post-operative care. Scar revision may also be performed after healing from skin cancer treatment is complete in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of scars from skin cancer surgery.
Monitoring for skin cancer recurrence after treatment is extremely important, as removing skin cancer and having reconstructive surgery in no way prevent cancer from recurring.
Obviously, avoiding sun exposure and using sun protection products to prevent cancer recurrence will also be an important part of maintaining cancer-free skin and protecting your results. It is also important to protect healing skin cancer surgery scars from sun exposure to avoid permanent darkening.
If you follow all pre- and post-operative care instructions and keep your follow-up appointments with Dr. Motlagh, he will be better able to help ensure the best possible functional and cosmetic results are achieved following skin cancer surgery.
Tyler Plastic Surgery serves patients in Tyler, Plano, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, as well as Shreveport, Louisiana, who need skin cancer removal with or without reconstructive surgery.
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