Identifying And Treating Skin Cancer: What To Expect
If you've noticed an unusual growth on an area of your body, you might feel a bit nervous about it. If it's not a skin tag and it looks a bit more like a mole, there's a chance that this growth could be cancerous. When dealing with an unusual growth on your body, you should have it checked out immediately. If it's cancer, you'd be able to receive treatment and possibly catch the cancer in its early stages because it often spreads as time goes on.
The Skin Evaluation
Schedule an appointment to see a doctor to have your skin evaluated. The doctor will examine the skin growth and then perform a skin biopsy. The biopsy is necessary because it's the only way to know for sure if the growth is cancerous. During a biopsy, a small portion of the skin is removed. That portion of skin is then carefully examined by professionals to determine if it's cancerous. If you do have skin cancer, the doctor would give you a call to inform you of the results.
You may be afraid of undergoing a skin biopsy. The idea of having any type of skin removed does sound frightening, but the doctor will make sure to give you a local anesthetic before removing that small portion of skin. The anesthetic will keep you from feeling much pain. It's better to have the biopsy performed to know for sure if you have skin cancer or not.
The Treatment
If you're told that you have skin cancer, you might start stressing out. However, in most cases, skin cancer is often quite treatable. The doctor may want to talk to you about treatment options. One of the most common and effective methods of treatment for skin cancer is the Mohs surgery. During this particular procedure, a skilled surgeon carefully removes multiple layers of tissue little by little.
After removing one layer of tissue, it is then checked for any cancerous cells. The process continues until the surgeon gets to a layer of tissue that no longer contains those cancerous cells. An anesthetic is provided to patients before the procedure begins. It's a method you should discuss with your doctor to find out if it's good for you based on the type of skin cancer you've been diagnosed with.
If you've noticed an unusual growth on your body, have it checked and tested because it may be cancerous. If you receive bad news about having skin cancer after the biopsy is completed, talk to your doctor about some effective treatment options so that you can focus on removing these cancerous cells from your body. The Mohs surgery might be the procedure that helps you overcome this form of cancer.
Visit a site like http://www.eastcarolinadermatology.com for more help.
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