Skin Cancer Treatment in Peoria

What types of skin cancer can be treated surgically?

Surgery is a common treatment for removing both cancerous and noncancerous skin growths. Different surgical techniques are available at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery to address skin cancers like:

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell cancers often develop on areas of skin exposed to the sun, such as the ears, neck, and face. While rare, squamous cell cancers can spread to the deeper layers of skin and to other areas of the body.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancers, also developing in sun-exposed areas but in the deeper layers of skin. These cancers spread slowly and require prompt treatment to prevent the spread of cancer to other areas of the body.

Melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive cancer that starts in the cells that make the pigments to give your skin its color. Cancer often starts as noncancerous moles, which can develop into cancerous cells. Without treatment, melanomas can spread quickly and become life-threatening.

What types of surgery treat skin cancer?

There are several techniques the surgeons at CMIRS use to treat skin cancer. Your surgical plan depends on several factors, such as the type of cancer you have and its location and size.

Common techniques for removing cancerous growths include:

Excision

An excision is a procedure that involves a surgical knife to remove all of the abnormal cancer cells on your skin. An excision may also be used during a biopsy to take a sample of cell tissue for further analysis during an initial cancer diagnosis.

Lymph node surgery

If skin cancer is believed to have moved into your lymph nodes, a lymph node dissection may be necessary to determine if the skin cancer has spread.

The surgery involves the removal of lymph nodes that are later analyzed under a microscope to identify cancer.

Curettage and electrodesiccation

This type of skin cancer treatment uses a long, thin instrument with a sharp loop and an electric needle to destroy existing cancer cells. Curettage and electrodesiccation is useful for addressing cancer cells on the surface layer of your skin, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

The CMIRS surgical team also offers Mohs surgery.

What is Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is a standard treatment for skin cancers at high risk for returning after treatment. The CMIRS surgical staff are specially trained in this technique that involves removing a thin layer of skin and tumors for evaluation under a microscope.

Additional layers of skin are removed and checked until the surgeon reaches a layer of cancer-free skin. 

If you need surgery to treat skin cancer, don’t delay a consultation with the experienced surgeons at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery. Schedule an appointment online or by phone today.