Treatment Types

The treatment you receive depends on several factors, including your overall health, the stage of the disease and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Doctors may check to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in patients with some types of squamous cell cancer and melanoma. Treatments can be used on their own (radiation alone or surgery alone) or they can be combined.

• Radiation therapy: The radiation oncologist uses various forms of radiation to treat cancer and other diseases.
• Brachytherapy: A special form of radiation that places the radiation source very close to the tumor. This form of radiation tends to be shorter in duration than regular radiation therapy.
• Surgery: The cancer cells are cut out and removed.
• Moh’s surgery: A form of surgery where the tumor is removed one layer at a time. This technique may allow a dermatologist to preserve more healthy tissue.
• Cryosurgery: The cancer is frozen and removed.
• Laser surgery: Cancer cells are killed by laser beams.
• Electrodessication: The cancer is dried with an electric current and removed.
• Photodynamic therapy: The cancer is treated with a drug that is very sensitive to a special kind of light. When exposed to that special light, the drug produces a chemical reaction that kills nearby cells.
• Chemotherapy: The cancer cells are attacked by a drug that is either taken internally or applied on the skin.
• Biologic therapy: Medication given to help your immune system fight the cancer better.