Advances in medical technology have made surgery, healing, and rehabilitation a lot faster than it used to be. While skin cancer is a serious condition, the advances in modern medicine have made it possible to get treated and go back home within hours. This is ideal for people who get anxious or do not like going to medical offices.
The following four skin cancer treatment methods eliminate the need for full body anesthesia and you can stay awake during the whole process. Understanding the different methods can help you make the best choice for getting the process done as quickly as possible.
Cryosurgery
Instead of cutting into your skin or performing deep removals, cryosurgery will freeze the cancerous cells for easy removal of the skin. This process is completed using liquid nitrogen. The nitrogen is applied directly to the skin cancer and instantly freezes.
Once the area is frozen, you will not feel any pain from the process. A doctor uses special tools to aim directly at the cancerous cells. This helps prevent healthy cells from getting frozen. After a week or so, the frozen cells scab over and fall off. As a patient, you will feel little to no pain and can leave immediately after the procedure is completed.
Local Anesthesia
Instead of having full body anesthesia and being knocked out for hours, you can have a small amount of local anesthesia applied directly to the skin cancer cells. During this process, a doctor will apply medication around the cancerous tumor to make it numb. Then a doctor can use the proper tools and topical solutions to kill the cells.
The local anesthesia process is used for a number of different skin cancer treatments. This is especially useful on areas like the arm or body. The application of just local anesthesia may not work well for sensitive sections of the body like the neck, ears, or hands. A doctor will help determine the best course for anesthesia treatment.
Radiation
For deeper cases of skin cancer, radiation therapy may be the only option. During a radiation session, a doctor uses special x-ray equipment to blast radiated light on the affected areas. While these sessions can last under an hour, you will likely need multiple sessions to fully kill all of the cancer cells. The sessions will be scheduled on either a weekly or monthly basis, depending on the doctor's treatment plan. After each session, you can return home and live out your normal daily schedule.
Excision Surgery
One of the oldest ways to remove skin cancer is with a basic excision surgery. During this surgery, a doctor will use a scalpel and other special tools to cut the cancerous cells directly off the skin. Local anesthesia is applied to the area so you feel no pain.
Once all of the cells are removed, the area is patched up with stitches. Other than the proper care for the stitches, you are good to go after the excision is completed. A few weeks after the procedure, you may need an additional biopsy to determine if there is any more cancer present.
Extra Considerations
Along with choosing the quickest and most effective process for cancer removal, the doctor may be able to schedule an early appointment time. This will help you get home earlier in the day. The first appointment of the day will help guarantee that you are not waiting behind additional patients. A doctor will typically try to be as accommodating as possible, but you should be flexible with the appointment options. This will make everything as stress-free as possible and help the appointment get scheduled as soon as it can.
Remember to communicate as much as you can with the medical staff. Expressing your anxiety or fears can help them understand where you're coming from and help you get through the skin cancer treatment as quickly as possible.
