Skin Cancer Information - Treatments for Skin Cancer - Table of Precancer Treatment Comparisons

The treatment methods include excision (surgical removal) with suturing (sewing), curettage and electrodesiccation (scraping and burning with an electric needle), radiotherapy (x-ray treatments), cryosurgery (freezing), photodynamic therapy (shining light or laser on cells that have taken up or been activated by a chemical), topical chemotherapy (chemical destruction) and Mohs Surgery (microscopically controlled excision). Interferon has been used in the treatment of melanoma, squamous-cell cancer (SCC) and basal-cell cancer (BCC). See Skin Cancer Removal Methods for BCC and SCC and Melanoma.

*TABLE OF PRECANCER TREATMENT COMPARISONS*:
TYPE OF TREATMENT	BENEFITS	PROBLEMS/RISKS
Aldara (Imiquimod)	No cutting and usually less scarring.	20% failure rate on simplest tumors. Prolonged irritation.
Curettage (Scraping)	Wide range of depth. 1 to 4 weeks healing time.	May scar since many unskilled doctors use this method. Longer healing time, if deep.
Dermabrasion	Wide range of depth. Low chance of scarring.	Requires a skilled surgeon. FreonTM (refrigerant) is not available anymore.
Fluorouracil (5-FU)	Use for 6 weeks provides good treatment/prevention.	6 weeks of pain, crusting, redness,and possible scarring, if properly applied.
Laser	Wide range of depth. 1 week healing time.	Requires a skilled surgeon. Less effective results. Permanent loss of skin color. Several weeks to heal, if the laser reaches the proper depth.
Liquid Nitrogen (LN2)	Low chance of scarring.	Requires great skill to avoid loss of pigment because the melanocytes are freeze sensitive. Many spot treatments are necessary.
Photodynamic Therapy (ALA)	1 week healing time. Complete site treatment. Low chance of scarring. Deepest precancers will get doctor's attention.	Awaiting almost certain, FDA approval. Stings during treatment. Limited availability at first.

TABLE OF PRECANCER TREATMENT COMPARISONS:

TYPE OF TREATMENT

BENEFITS

PROBLEMS/RISKS

Aldara (Imiquimod)

No cutting and usually less scarring.

20% failure rate on simplest tumors. Prolonged irritation.

Curettage (Scraping)

Wide range of depth. 1 to 4 weeks healing time.

May scar since many unskilled doctors use this method. Longer healing time, if deep.

Dermabrasion

Wide range of depth. Low chance of scarring.

Requires a skilled surgeon. FreonTM (refrigerant) is not available anymore.

Fluorouracil (5-FU)

Use for 6 weeks provides good treatment/prevention.

6 weeks of pain, crusting, redness,and possible scarring, if properly applied.

Laser

Wide range of depth. 1 week healing time.

Requires a skilled surgeon. Less effective results. Permanent loss of skin color. Several weeks to heal, if the laser reaches the proper depth.

Liquid Nitrogen (LN2)

Low chance of scarring.

Requires great skill to avoid loss of pigment because the melanocytes are freeze sensitive. Many spot treatments are necessary.

Photodynamic Therapy (ALA)

1 week healing time.
Complete site treatment.
Low chance of scarring.
Deepest precancers will get doctor's attention.

Awaiting almost certain, FDA approval.
Stings during treatment.
Limited availability at first.