Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers today. However, it is also one of the most treatable cancers as long as it is caught in its early stages. Because many people previously did not understand the necessity of using sunscreen, the damage done by the sun is becoming clearly evident, even though more people are using the appropriate sunscreen today. When you are diagnosed with skin cancer in NJ, you may find you need the area surgically removed.
Excision
The most common method of treating skin cancer is to remove the entire area that has been affected by the skin cancer. For some people, this can mean cutting out a large portion of the skin. The doctor will take a close look at the area and determine the margins of the cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, he will then remove an additional area around the suspected cancer to ensure all the cancerous cells are removed. Once it is all removed, the repair can begin.
Simple Repair
In some instances, the can be easily repaired. However, this depends greatly on the location of the removal, as well as the overall size. In some areas, the skin can easily be stretched to cover the amount of skin removed and sewn together with stitches. There are other cases, though, where more involved processes may be required.
Skin Grafts
If the area is too large or the skin cannot be pulled over the area without causing problems, plastic surgery may be required. In many cases, skin may be removed from another part of the body and placed over the area that was removed due to the skin cancer. The skin that is grafted is often taken from a less noticeable area of the body to ensure there are few visible scars for everyone to see.
The treatments for skin cancer in NJ often require an area of skin to be removed. In some cases, only a small piece of skin may need to be removed. In others, a much larger area has to be removed to ensure the cancer has not spread beyond the borders, Once the skin is removed, the area must be repaired, often in one of two ways. In minor cases, the skin is simply pulled over and closed with typical stitches. However, in more severe cases, a skin graft may be necessary to cover the area completely.
To learn more about the process of treatment for skin cancer in NJ, visit Domain.