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Cancer
can be totally cured if treated in the early stages. The different types of skin
cancer treatments are surgery, radiation therapies and some other treatments.
1. Surgery is the most common treatment for skin cancer and plays
an important role in diagnosing and staging cancer. It involves following procedures:
a) Cryosurgery whereby the tumor is frozen that kills the cancer;
b)
Electrodesiccation and curettage whereby the lesion is burnt and then removed
with the help of a sharp instrument;
c) Grafting process involves a
process in which the damaged skin is replaced by a skin graft when the cancer
is treated;
d) Laser Therapy whereby a narrow beam of light is used
to remove cancer cells;
e) Mohs micrographic surgery wherein cancer
and as little as possible normal tissues are removed;
f) Simple excision
in which cancer is being cut from the skin with very little healthy skin around
it.
2. Radiation therapy is the treatment whereby high-energy
rays such as x-rays are used to kill or shrink cancer cells. Outside radiation
like external beam radiation or internal radiation such as radioactive materials
placed directly within the tumor are also used.
3. Electrochemotherapy
uses a combination of chemotherapy and electrical pulses to treat cancer.
4. Other treatments involve chemotherapy wherein drugs treatment
is used to destroy cancer. There is topical chemotherapy in which a cream or lotion
is placed on the skin to kill cancer cells.
Systemic chemotherapy is applied
when a pill or needle is injected into a vein or muscle. Biological therapy fights
cancer by using materials made by own human body or those made in laboratory in
order to boost and restore body's natural defenses against disease. Photodynamic
therapy involves use of certain type of light and some special chemical to kill
cancer. Immunotherapy involves injecting a medication called interferon
so that the body's own immune system is boosted therefore slows down the growth
of cancer.
Now days some other therapies such as naturopathic medicines,
mind body medicine, nutritional therapy, image enhancement and spiritual support
are also provided for cancer treatment.
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