Basal Cancer Treatment

Basal cell carcinoma is a very common type of skin cancer and is luckily fairly easy to treat. It doesn't spread very often and grows very slowly. But that is not to say this skin cancer type does no damage. If left untreated, it can grow quite large, causing permanent damage to tissue. Basal cell carcinoma is easy to spot and shows up anywhere on the body and looks shiny and waxy. Numerous treatments are available and should be employed in removing these cancerous growths.

Cryosurgery

• One type of treatment is called cryosurgery. It involves removing the growth by freezing it first. This is done by using liquid nitrogen on the affected area. Once the growth thaws, it will slough off. This is usually best used on smaller basal cell carcinomas.

Curettage and Desiccation

• Sometimes a method called curettage and desiccation is used in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. This treatment option involves using a curette -- a surgical instrument shaped like a spoon -- to remove the cancerous growth, and then applying desiccation, or an electric current, to the area to kill any cancer cells left behind and to stop the bleeding.

Excision

• One of the simplest and most straightforward treatments for this kind of skin cancer is called excision. It merely involves cutting out the growth from the skin and stitching up the healthy skin. It's very simple but usually effective.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

• Another treatment type is called Mohs micrographic surgery. Basically, a part of the growth is removed and then examined under a microscope. Then, more of it is removed, and examined once again. This process continues until the tissue undergoing examination no longer contains any cancer cells.

Radiation

• In some cases, radiation is used to treat basal cell carcinoma. Though not the primary option sought, radiation therapy can be effective in treating skin cancers that appear in areas that are hard to operate on. Several rounds of radiation are generally required for sufficient treatment.