Treatment for skin cancer should be indicated by the oncologist or dermatologist and should be initiated as soon as possible to increase the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is recommended to always be attentive to changes in the skin, which may indicate the onset of cancer.
Depending on the characteristics of the injury, the type of cancer, the size and overall condition of the person, different types of treatment may be recommended:
- Melanoma-type skin cancer is characterized by the presence of one or more dark spots on the skin that develop over time and have their shape altered.
- To treat this type of malignant cancer.
- It is almost always necessary to undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy after surgery.
- As this type of cancer has a high growth rate and can quickly affect other organs.
Initial treatment of melanoma is done by surgical removal of the cancerous lesion and chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be performed as recommended by your doctor. In chemotherapy, medications are applied directly to the vein to remove cancer cells that were not removed during surgery. For radiation therapy, x-rays are applied directly to the skin to remove the remaining tumor cells.
Another treatment option for skin cancer melanoma that may be indicated by your doctor is the use of medications, such as Vemurafenib, Nivolumab or Ipilimumab, which help strengthen the immune system so that it is able to kill more cancer cells.
Melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer and is therefore not always possible to cure it, especially when the tumor is identified at a very advanced stage. However, when identified at an early stage, treatment can be quite effective. Even if recovery is not achieved, treatment is sufficient to reduce symptoms and increase patients’ life expectancy.
Non-melanoma skin cancer can be characterized as a small sore or lump on red, reddish or pink skin, which develops quickly and forms a skin, and may be accompanied by release of secretions and itching. The most common and least severe non-melanoma skin cancers are the basal and squamous cells, which are easier to cure.
Treatment of this type of cancer is, most of the time, only by surgery, which, depending on the person’s general condition, stage of identification and type of cancer, your doctor may indicate:
However, in cases where the cancer is at a very advanced stage, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may still need to be done for a few weeks to remove the remaining cancer cells that were not removed during surgery.
The decrease in injuries and the absence of new lesions indicate that the treatment has been effective, thus being a sign of improvement of the cancer, being more common in cases where the cancer is identified and treated in the initial phase. Know the signs of skin cancer.
However, when treatment is not started early or is at a very advanced stage, signs of aggravation more easily appear, with the possibility of new skin lesions, pain at the site of injuries and excessive fatigue for example. .