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Skin Cancer Types and Treatments At Claris Group

Wednesday 25 October 2017, 8:53PM

By Beckie Wright

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There’s a lot of talk about skin cancer, but most of us don’t really know the different skin cancer types. This is understandable, as it’s not a pleasant topic to discuss. However being properly informed can help you prepare for the unexpected and take precautionary action. Skin cancer is one of the most common yet preventable cancers in New Zealand, with approximately 60 people diagnosed every day.

There are two main types of skin cancers: non-melanoma and melanoma, and many ways to treat them. Non-melanoma skin cancers can be serious but are generally not life threatening. There are two main types of non-melanoma skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in New Zealanders, with an estimated 40% of Kiwis developing it during their lifetime. Basal cancer cells grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. Squamous cells grow quickly and can spread to nearby lymph nodes. Treatment options for non-melanoma cancers include Mohs surgery: removing a very thin layer of skin at a time, Excision: removing the skin cancer along with some healthy skin tissue, Radiation therapy: using radiation to kill cancer cells, Curettage and electro surgery: scraping off the skin cancer and destroying remaining cancer cells, and Cryosurgery: freezing cancer cells with liquid nitrogen.

Melanoma is a rare type of skin cancer. It is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is most commonly found in adults. In men, melanoma is most often found on the area from the shoulders to the hips, or the head or neck. In women, melanoma is often found on the arms or legs. Treatment options for melanoma cancer include Surgery: excision, Mohs surgery or amputation, Immunotherapy: drugs to improve the immune system so the body attacks cancer cells and Targeted therapy: drugs that target the parts of melanoma cells that make them different from normal cells.

There is also treatment with Chemotherapy: drugs that attack any quickly dividing cell, and Radiation therapy: sometimes used to lower the chance of cancer returning.

Patients may be treated by a number of doctors, including a dermatologist, a surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. If a type of treatment isn’t working, it is often possible to try another form of treatment. Some patients choose to participate in a clinical study, to gain access to new drugs.

If you are concerned about a mole, bump or any other abnormalities in the skin, go to a skin cancer clinic for professional advice. It’s recommended that adults go to a skin clinic every three months to get their skin and moles checked, and for more information on Claris Group, skin specialist and skin and cancer please go to http://claris.co.nz .