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Your searched on: skin tumors
Squamous Cell Skin Cancer
What is squamous cell skin cancer? Squamous cell skin cancer is a common type of skin cancer. It's often caused by too much sun. This cancer grows slowly. When found and treated early, most of these cancers can be cured. If not treated, this skin cancer may grow and spread (metastasize). What are the symptoms? Skin...
Skin Cancer: Preventing It and Watching for Early Signs
Provides tips for preventing and watching for skin cancer. Includes protecting the skin, knowing early signs of skin cancer, and having skin exams.
Skin Cancer Screening
Skin cancer may be treated more successfully if it is caught early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) hasn't recommended for or against routine skin cancer screening for adults at normal risk. This means the USPSTF didn't find enough evidence from studies to show that all adults with a normal risk for...
Removing Moles and Skin Tags
Moles Moles are skin growths made up of cells that produce color (pigment). A mole can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most people get a few moles during their first 20 years of life. They are usually brown in color but can be blue, black, or flesh-colored. Most moles are harmless and do not cause pain...
Basal Cell Skin Cancer
What is basal cell skin cancer? Basal cell skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer. It grows slowly and usually doesn't spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. But if this cancer isn't treated, it can damage the nearby skin and deeper tissues. When it's found and treated early, it is almost always...
Lipoma
What is a lipoma? A lipoma is a growth of fat cells in a thin, fibrous capsule usually found just below the skin. Lipomas aren't cancer and don't turn into cancer. They are found most often on the torso, neck, upper thighs, upper arms, and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. One or more lipomas may...
Swollen Glands, Hernias, and Other Lumps Under the Skin
Briefly discusses possible causes of swollen glands and other lumps under the skin. Covers bacterial and viral infections, noncancerous growths, hernias, aneurysms, and swelling caused by cancer. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Skin Cancer, Nonmelanoma
Discusses basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, two types of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Covers causes and what increases your risk. Discusses early detection. Covers treatment choices, including chemotherapy and surgery. Offers prevention tips.
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Comparing Treatments
Most nonmelanoma skin cancer can be cured if it is found and treated early. The goal of treatment is to completely remove the cancer. But the method of removal will differ depending on the experience of your doctor and the type of cancer you have. Advantages and disadvantages of common treatments for nonmelanoma skin...
Cryotherapy for Skin Lesions
Cryotherapy is the process of destroying a skin lesion by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion using a cotton applicator stick or an aerosol spray. The skin may first be numbed with a local anesthetic. The liquid nitrogen is applied or sprayed onto the lesion and the immediate...
Excision of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Excision of nonmelanoma skin cancer is a treatment to remove, or excise, basal cell and squamous cell cancers (carcinomas) from your skin. Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the skin. Most cases of these types of cancer can be cured if they are found and removed early. If the cancer is not completely...
Curettage and Electrosurgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Curettage is the process of scraping skin with a spoon-shaped tool (curette) to remove skin tissue. Electrosurgery is the burning of skin tissue with an electric current that runs through a metal tool or needle. It may be done after curettage to control bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells. The wound is then...
Laser Treatment for Skin Lesions
Laser treatment uses a highly focused beam of light. This high-intensity light is used to shrink or destroy skin lesions like pre-cancers (actinic keratosis). With lasers, there is usually less bleeding, swelling, and scarring. Healing is quicker, and you are less likely to get an infection. Several different types of...
Skin Changes
Briefly discusses common skin changes and possible causes including infection, health conditions, and medicines. Includes info on skin cancer. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Childhood Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]
Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the skin. The skin is the body's largest organ. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. The skin has several layers, but the two main...
Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
Mohs surgery removes a skin cancer one layer at a time. The doctor checks each layer for cancer cells until no more cancer is found. This method lets the doctor save as much healthy tissue as possible. This surgery is mostly used for areas of skin you can see or where scarring is a bigger concern, such as on the ears...
Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells. This procedure may require 15 to 30 visits to a facility with special equipment. Radiation therapy may be used in combination with other types of therapy to treat aggressive or recurrent skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ®): Prevention - Patient Information [NCI]
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer. To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective...
Skin Cancer Screening (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI]
Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Scientists are trying to better understand which people are more likely to...
Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]
Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the skin. The skin is the body's largest organ. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. The skin has several layers, but the two main...
Basal Cell Skin Cancer: Should I Have Surgery?
Guides you through decision to treat low-risk basal cell skin cancer with surgery or nonsurgical treatments. Explains types of surgery and types of nonsurgical treatments. Covers benefits and risks of both. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Indoor Tanning: Is It Safe?
When people use a tanning bed or booth or a sunlamp to get a tan, it's called indoor tanning. Indoor tanning uses artificial ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light, rather than sunlight, to tan the skin. People may feel that a tan makes them look good and that a tan looks "healthy." But being exposed to the...
Breast Cancer: What Should I Do if I'm at High Risk?
Guides you through testing and treatment choices if you're at high risk for breast cancer. Covers extra checkups, medicines, and surgery. Lists reasons for and against for each option. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Ganglions
Discusses ganglions, small cysts that look like bumps often on hands and wrists. Covers exams and tests used to diagnose ganglions. Covers nonsurgical and surgical treatment options. Offers home treatment tips.
Mastectomy (Removal of the Breast) for Breast Cancer
Discusses breast cancer surgery. Covers simple mastectomy, modified mastectomy, and radical mastectomy. Covers what to expect after surgery. Looks at risks. Links to info on breast reconstruction.
Tissue Flap Surgery for Breast Reconstruction
Discusses breast reconstruction surgery done after mastectomy. Covers two ways of doing the surgery: pedicle flap and free flap. Looks at types of flap surgery: TRAM, latissimus dorsi, DIEP, SIEA, TUG, and gluteal free. Covers what to expect after surgery and risks.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]
Merkel cell carcinoma is a very rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the skin. Merkel cells are found in the top layer of the skin. These cells are very close to the nerve endings that receive the sensation of touch. Merkel cell carcinoma, also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular...
Colostomy
A colostomy is surgery to make an opening in the skin on the belly and connect your bowel (colon) to that opening. The opening is called a stoma. The stoma may be needed for weeks to months. Or it may be needed throughout your life. After surgery, stool will not leave your body through your anus. It will go through the...
Ultraviolet Rays From the Sun
The sunlight that reaches the earth has ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB) rays. These ultraviolet rays are the main causes of damage to the skin from the sun. UVA and UVB rays affect the skin's sensitivity to sun exposure in different ways. UVA Can pass through window glass Is not affected by a change in...
Hereditary Kidney Cancer Syndromes (PDQ®): Genetics - Patient Information [NCI]
Kidney cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in tubules of the kidney. Kidney cancer (also called renal cell cancer) is cancer that starts in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney called renal tubules. There are two kidneys, one on each side of the backbone, above the waist. Tubules in the...
Thinking About Bilateral Mastectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
People with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-conserving surgery ( lumpectomy) followed by radiation treatments live just as long as people who have mastectomy. Some people with early-stage cancer choose to have both the affected breast and the breast without cancer removed. Removing both breasts is called a...
Breast Cancer: Should I Have Breast-Conserving Surgery or a Mastectomy?
Guides you through decision about which surgery to have for early-stage breast cancer. Lists benefits and risks of both mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Choosing a Prosthesis After Breast Cancer Surgery
Whether to wear a breast form (prosthesis) after breast surgery is a very personal decision. You may want to wear a breast form if: You are waiting for reconstructive surgery. You have decided not to have reconstructive surgery. Your breasts don't look even. You have had only part of your breast removed (lumpectomy)...
Breast Cancer: Should I Have Breast Reconstruction After a Mastectomy?
Guides through decision to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Describes what options are available for breast reconstruction and how it is done. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Exercises After Breast Cancer Surgery
Provides an overview and step-by-step instructions and photos for doing exercises after breast cancer surgery.
Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury
Briefly discusses finger, hand, and wrist problems caused by overuse or health conditions, such as arthritis. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.