Finding the Best Skin Cancer Treatments Dermatology Centers Have to Offer

Perhaps it started when you noticed a mole that was out of place. Maybe your doctor found a spot on your arm that looked a bit odd during a routine examination. No matter how you spotted the problem, you may now be facing a diagnosis of skin cancer. Finding the right organization to help you face the potential treatment ahead is key in the process, which is why it's essential to find the best skin cancer dermatology center Colorado Springs has to offer. As you begin your search, you may want to find centers that offer top treatments, and here are just a few you should be aware of.

Surgical options are, by far, the most typical treatment for skin cancers. At the earliest stages of the cancer, it is confined to the epidermal layer of the skin. Only with time does it grown and spread to other layers, so removing the tumor right away could have you cancer free for the rest of your life. In some cases, you may need reconstructive surgery after the initial procedure, and that's one reason working with an entire dermatology center instead of an oncologist's office can be helpful.

Radiation is typically a step taken when the tumor either can't be removed surgically or your doctor feels further treatment is necessary after surgery. In most cases, radiation is used to shrink the tumor, and the best skin cancer dermatology center Colorado Springs has within the city limits offers this treatment to some patients. While it does have a much lower rate of success than other treatments, it's still a viable option.

Chemotherapy may also be an option your doctor presents to you. If your tumor is fairly thin and on the upper layers of the skin, medication can be applied directly to it to kill deeper cancer cells. The real benefit here is that there aren't very many scars involved. Like radiation, however, it doesn't work on the deeper tumors.

There are a number of other experimental treatments being offered by the best skin cancer dermatology center Colorado Springs has within the city limits, but knowing what's out there, what might work for you, and what options you have available is the key to talking to your doctor as intelligently as possible. It's okay to come into the dermatology center with a list of questions, and don't hesitate to find another facility to meet your needs if the first one doesn't seem to measure up to your expectations.