Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It performs several functions. It helps to regulate your temperature, protects organs, acts as germ barrier and regulates fluid loss. This organ is your body’s first line of defense against the sun’s UV rays, as a result of that and people’s tendency to enjoy outdoor activities, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. If you are fair skinned and have had sunburns in the past you are more at risk for skin cancer. Fortunately skin cancer is easily detected and with early detection it can be treated before it becomes fatal. However, in people with Latin American, African American, and Asian skin types, skin cancer has a higher fatality rate despite being less common; this is due to late detection.
There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell is the most common for a skin cancer and rarely metastasizes. It appears like pearly white patches on the skin. Squamous cell is the second most common form of skin cancer it will occasionally metastasize, and grows more quickly than basal cell. This appears like a raised red scaly area on the skin. Melanoma is the least common, but most aggressive type of cancer. It can develop from an existing mole or freckle or from new ones. These are distinguished by their irregular, asymmetrical shape.
Once cancer is found there are several ways to treat it. Freezing, curettage and electrodessication, and Mohs Surgery in Minneapolis MN are some option. Freezing and curettage and electrodessication are generally used for less complex cancers; i.e. not as deep or invasive. Mohs surgery is used to treat complex skin cancers. A micrographic picture is taken of the cancer the same day as the Mohs Surgery in Minneapolis MN. This surgery has the highest cure rate with the lowest rate of normal tissue removed as well.
Cancer is when skin cells grow abnormally and early detection is important to prevent its spread to other organs. Visit a dermatologist for a cancer screening. If skin cancer is detected discuss all you treatment options including freezing, curettage and electrodessication, and Mohs Surgery in Minneapolis MN.
