How Is Skin Cancer Diagnosed And Treated?

Skin cancer is cancer that affects the skin cells and can work it's way to other organs of the body. Skin cancer can start as a minor mole that is irregular in size, shape, and color, or it could begin as just a patch of skin that doesn't heal properly. If you think you have skin cancer, you may wonder how it's diagnosed and how it is treated. Read on for information about how skin cancer is diagnosed and how it's treated.

How Is Skin Cancer Diagnosed?

Skin cancer is usually diagnosed with a biopsy of the skin that you suspect is cancerous or that you feel has changed in different ways, such as shape, color, and size. If you have a part of your skin that you are questioning, you should get to the dermatologist for a checkup of your skin and to have it biopsied if need be. The biopsy is done by scraping the skin and then testing for cancerous cells. If there are cancerous cells, the skin is further scraped and biopsied to ensure all of the cancerous cells have been removed from the skin. The area is monitored further to be sure all of the skin cancer has been removed and hasn't returned.

How Is Skin Cancer Treated?

Skin cancer is treated with removal of the cancerous cells, as mentioned above. If you have skin cancer that has spread further and it is not able to be scraped any further, you may have to have cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. These therapies depend on how far the skin cancer has spread throughout the body and the severity of your skin cancer. If you have to have these treatments, you may be referred to an oncologist for further treatment.

If you have irregular moles or other areas of the skin that you suspect could be cancerous, you need to get in for a diagnosis and treatment. Catching skin cancer early is very important in the treatment of this condition. Prevent skin cancer by protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays by wearing clothing to cover your skin when in the sun and wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 whenever you are out in the sun as well. Talk to your dermatologist about other things you can do to prevent skin cancer and to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Contact a doctor to learn more about skin cancer treatments.