Once cancer develops, early detection and treatment are the best defense. Get familiar with your skin and your own pattern of moles and freckles with monthly skin self-exams. If any growth, mole or discoloration appears suddenly or begins to change, or if a sore appears that doesn't heal, see a dermatologist. For any type of skin cancer, treatment involves removing the lesion, usually in an outpatient procedure. The treatment goal is to remove or destroy the growth completely with as little damage as possible to healthy tissue.
Doctors evaluate numerous factors in planning treatment.
Considerations include type of cancer, tumor size and location, extent of disease, whether it's new or recurrent, potential for scarring, and the patient's overall health. Occasionally, other treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may be used alone or in combination. Even after successful treatment, people who have had skin cancer remain at increased risk of developing it again. Protecting their skin from UV exposure is critical in helping to prevent a recurrence. It should become a life-long habit.