Also known melanoma, skin cancer will affect 1 in 5 people in their lifetime, and is one of the most common forms of cancer. Other forms of skin cancer include basal cell and squamous cell. Most skin cancers are treatable when spotted and treated early, though malignant melanomas can be somewhat harder to treat effectively. The most common early sign of skin cancer is an unusual growth on the skin or a change in colour of moles, freckles and skin tags. Melanomas are often sore, and are prone to swelling and bleeding.

Some forms of skin cancer also appear as bruises that are not healing or suspicious marks on the skin. If any of these symptoms appear, a doctor should be consulted and a full examination and biopsy carried out. The chances of treating skin cancer effectively increase dramatically with an early diagnosis. Once it has been established that skin cancer is present, there are a number of treatment options available. A surgical removal is often the first step, with the melanoma and parts of surrounding skin removed.

Further tests will then be carried out to determine whether the melanoma has spread. If this is the case and the melanoma has become metastatic, then additional treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy may be required, depending on how far the cancer has spread. Basal cell carcinoma is another form of skin cancer, which tends to be caused by skin that is overexposed to sunlight. Similarly, squamous cell carcinoma is also caused by sunlight, and requires early treatment to prevent the spread to other parts of the body.

Other examples of treatment for skin cancer include laser surgery, cryosurgery, curettage, and photodynamic therapy. Regular checkups following skin cancer treatment are very important to ensure that the cancer has not returned.

Which other oncology treatments can I find abroad?

For patients from countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, skin cancer treatment is not always wholly accessible, either due to inflated costs or stretched-out waiting times. It is for this reason that many people are traveling to countries such as Germany, Thailand, and Turkey in search of affordable and quality oncology procedures. Find Oncology Consultations Abroad Find Chemotherapy Abroad Find Radiotherapy Abroad,