What are the treatment options for skin cancer?

The primary treatment for skin cancer is surgery. The type of surgery you’ll need depends on the
cancer’s size, type, and location. Skin surgery is used to treat basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma and malignant melanoma. It might involve removing a mole or lesion, and a small area
around it (excisional biopsy). This is used both to diagnose and treat skin cancer. You might also be
offered shave excision, where raised moles can be removed by a shaving technique that doesn’t
involve having stitches. Punch excision is when a blade removes the problem area and takes a
sample for analysis. Elliptical excision is when a section of skin around the lesion is cut to help skin
heal better. And Mohs micrographic surgery treats skin cancer by removing cells layer by layer,
examining each layer under a microscope until the area is free of cancer. Mohs micrographic surgery
has the highest cure rates and the lowest risk of recurrence for certain types of skin cancer.

Other types of skin cancer treatment include radiotherapy, immunotherapy cream, photodynamic
therapy (PDT), chemotherapy cream, or a combination. Treatment options for more advanced types
of skin cancer that have spread to other organs include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and
radiotherapy.