Optima Dermatology on Common Types of Skin Cancer & Treatment Options with WGME

Board-Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Daniel Cuozzo sits down with ‪CBS13 News‬ to discuss common types of skin cancer and treatment options available.

Types of Skin Cancer & Treatment Options 

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Early detection of skin cancer is key to making treatment more effective.  It’s important to ensure you’re in tune with your skin and able to notice any new, changing, or unusual areas. There are many different types of skin cancer. Some of the most common to be aware of include: 

Actinic Keratoses (AK) Precancerous 

• Very common precancerous skin growths that tend to appear on skin that’s been the most badly damaged by the sun 

• An actinic keratosis often appears as a reddish spot 

• If left untreated AKs can lead to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) 

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) 

• Non-melanoma skin cancer that grows slowly, and rarely spreads to another part of the body 

• A common sign is a slowly growing, non-healing spot that sometimes bleeds 

• treatment is important – over time BCC can grow wide and deep and spread deeply into the skin, wrap around nerves and blood vessels, and invade muscles and bone 

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) 

• SCC often develops on skin that’s had lots of sun exposure like the face, hands, or lips 

• SCCs can show up on the skin in many ways including: 

• Rough, reddish scaly area 

• Open sore, often with a raised boarder 

• Firm, dome shaped growth 

• Wart-like growth 

• Sore developing from an old scar 

• While this skin cancer tends to grow slowly, without treatment, it can grow deep and can also spread to other parts of the body, which can be deadly 

Melanoma 

• The most serious form of skin cancer 

• Characterized by uncontrolled growth of pigment producing cells; look for new or changing spots or moles on your skin 

• Melanoma is highly treatable when detected early, but advanced melanoma can spread to the lymph nodes and internal organs 

If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, there are multiple treatment options.  

CRYOSURGERY (For small skin cancers found in the early stages and AK) 

• Uses liquid nitrogen to freeze cancerous tissue and falls off as it thaws 

EXCISION 

• Removes the tumor along with a small perimeter of healthy skin 

MOHS SURGERY (Available in Stratham, NH) 

• Used to treat areas where skin preservation is important, such as the face or hands 

• The tumor is removed by individual skin layers until the surgeon no longer detects cancerous cells 

• Most effective skin cancer treatment, with a 99% cure rate 

Additional treatment options your dermatologist may consider include curettage & electrodesiccation, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

For more information, go to optimadermatology.com or call Optima in Scarborough (207) 770-5621.