To diagnose skin cancer, your doctor will take your complete medical history. He will examine your skin for abnormalities and ask if you have noticed any changes on its surface. A biopsy of the area may be performed, or the doctor may choose to remove the entire lesion for analysis.Despite the fact that most skin cancer grows slowly, it must be treated. If it remains untreated, it may result in a more severe case of cancer.
In most cases, your doctor will recommend shaving off as much of the lump or growth as possible, then burning (cauterizing) the surrounding skin. In other cases, the entire lump can be removed surgically. Freezing the cancerous cells with liquid nitrogen is also an option.
A treatment called Mohs’ chemosurgery can treat skin cancer. If you choose this method, your doctor will remove and analyze layers of the lump and the surrounding skin.
The outlook for most skin cancer patients is excellent. Your doctor should re-examine you every 6 to 12 months to ensure that it has not recurred—if you have skin cancer, you run a higher risk of getting it again.
You can reduce your risk for developing the disease by limiting your exposure to sunlight, especially mid-day sunlight. Always wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 when you are in the sun.
