Skin Cancer Treatment Options
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is simply liquid nitrogen, applied directly to the skin at -140 degrees. Abnormal or precancerous cells die, and normal cells recover. Cryotherapy is used to treat solar keratoses for instance, which is damaged, pre-cancerous skin, something we commonly see in older patients. Cryotherapy is also used to remove skin tags and warts.
Curettage
Curettage is a simple procedure used to treat minor forms of skin cancer. If the cancer doesn’t penetrate too far beneath the surface, it can be scraped away under local anaesthetic using a sharp, spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. The wound is then sealed with heat to stop the bleeding. Healing takes a couple of weeks and a small white scar remains.
Surgical Removal
A common form of skin cancer treatment is to surgically manage the cancer, which usually refers to removing the entire cancerous lesion from the skin. In most cases this can be carried out at the procedure room in our clinic under local anaesthetic and patients are able to go straight home after the procedure.
For more complex cases, Surfers Health Medical Skin Cancer Clinic is equipped to offer Advanced Skin Cancer Surgery procedures. This includes reconstructive techniques such as skin grafts and flap repairs, in addition to lower limb surgery and head, scalp and neck surgery using plastic surgery techniques. Or GP’s are in close cooperation with plastic surgeons and dermatologists for complicated cases.
