Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Treatment Of Skin Cancer

Surgery

The key stages involved in skin graft survival: Plasma imbibition is where diffusion takes place until angiogenesis occurs. Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed. The thinner grafts are more prone to the survival of skin grafts. This process takes 24 to 48 hours. Inosculation is when the capillaries join between the skin graft and the recipient bed. This takes place 48 to 72 hours. Revascularisation is when there are cappillaries growing into the graft. This commonly takes 4 to 7 days. It is important that the wound healing process is maintained and monitored.

Immune-stimulating cream

Chemotherapy

The mode of mechanism for cisplatin, 5-FU, and Paclitaxel/Docetaxel

Radiotherapy

Photodynamic Therapy

Cryotherapy

Electrosurgery

The principles of electrosurgery

Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The different forms of excisions, biopsies, and other surgical options.

The mechanism of Cisplatin (URIanimation)

British Association for Dermatologists guidelines for assessment and treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Please click here for a larger image or to download the source:

British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of people with cutaneous SCC Download

Treatment For Malignant Melanoma

Surgery

Non-surgical treatments for melanoma skin cancer

There are four main immunotherapies

In patient cases of melanoma skin cancers that are caused by mutated genes, for instance, the BRAF V600 gene. There are several examples:

A visual presentation of how Vemurafenib blocks the signal transduction via BRAF V600E mutation in the cytoplasm. In turn, the target genes for cellular proliferation are not transcribed in the nucleus, and hence the process is blocked.

Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma

Surgery

Chemotherapy

The method by which DNA alkylating drugs work

Radiotherapy

Immunotherapy

Treatment for Intra-ocular melanoma

Brachytherapy

Radioactive eye plaques

Please see the following recommended link for additional information:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/eye-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/internal-radiotherapy

Enucleation

Please see the following recommended link for additional information:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK562144/

Watch the operation via the Youtube link below:

https://youtu.be/v3H4y7dAgiU?si=UBCS7qJv9csyO9l2

Can skin cancer treatments negatively affect the skin?

Types of scars: A normotrophic scar is smooth, compact, and smaller with a uniform texture than a hypertrophic or keloid scar. It is considered the most natural and least noticeable form of scar. There may be more uneven or bulging. Less common to have soreness or itchiness.
Hypertrophic scars are scars that are bulging, itchy, painful, and do not exceed the initial wound. It may appear paler or darker than normal skin.
Keloid scars are raised, hard, smooth, and shiny scars that may appear red, pink, purple, brown, or a darker tone. It is caused by having too much collagen in the skin. It arises on or near a joint after an injury, damage to the skin, for instance, a cut, burn, surgery, acne, body piercing, or a wound that has healed. It can grow for months, years, and become bigger than the actual wound. There may be feelings of itchiness, pain, lack of comfort, or difficulty moving. Treatment may help improve how it may look, but it cannot be removed.

What Is The Follow Up Procedure On Skin Cancer?

The table presents the likelihood of recurrence of non-melanoma cancer.

Preventative Ways To Avoid Skin Cancers

Consumption Of Vitamins

Retin-A makes new skin cells

Vitamin B3 lowers the risk of skin cancer – it enhances DNA repair

Vitamin D3 is good for skin health

How to check the skin for moles – NHS Guide

To check the skin for abnormal lesions or moles and changes.

Please visit the link below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/moles/

If you’re unsure, visit your GP.

Additional Recommended Sources For Reading

Spotting Cancer: Skin Cancer Guide

Skin Cancer Booklet Download

Skin Cancer Medical Research Journal Article by Emily Carter

Identifying types of skin cancer, risk factors, and effective treatments Download

References

‌Abgral, R., Querellou, S., Potard, G., Le Roux, P.-Y., Le Duc-Pennec, A., Marianovski, R., Pradier, O., Bizais, Y., Kraeber-Bodere, F. and Salaun, P.Y. (2008). Does 18F-FDG PET/CT Improve the Detection of Posttreatment Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients Negative for Disease on Clinical Follow-up? Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 50(1), pp.24–29. doi:https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.108.055806.

Al-Ibraheem, A., Buck, A., Krause, B.J., Scheidhauer, K. and Schwaiger, M. (2009). Clinical Applications of FDG PET and PET/CT in Head and Neck Cancer. Journal of Oncology, [online] 2009, p.e208725. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2009/208725.

Cambridge University Hospitals (2026) Skin cancer. Available at: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/our-services/cancer-services/cancer-and-types-of-treatment/cancer-types-a-z/skin-cancer/ (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2023) Dacarbazine. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/dacarbazine (Accessed: 13^th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2023) Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for skin cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/treatment/surgery/mohs-micrographic-surgery-mms (Accessed: 12^th February 2026)

‌Cassidy, J., Bissett, D., Spene, R., and Payne, M. (2010). Oxford Handbook of Oncology. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Hextall, J. (2022 Skin cancer: how is it treated, and can it be cured? Available at: https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-articles/skin-cancer-how-is-it-treated-and-can-it-be-cured/ (Accessed: 5^th February 2026)

Loo, E. van, Mosterd, K., Krekels, G.A.M., Roozeboom, M.H., Ostertag, J.U., Dirksen, C.D., Steijlen, P.M., Neumann, H.A.M., Nelemans, P.J. and Kelleners-Smeets, N.W.J. (2014). Surgical excision versus Mohs’ micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinoma of the face: A randomised clinical trial with 10 year follow-up. European Journal of Cancer, [online] 50(17), pp.3011–3020. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2014.08.018.

Madan, V., Lear, J.T. and Szeimies, R.-M. (2010). Non-melanoma skin cancer. The Lancet, [online] 375(9715), pp.673–685. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61196-X.

McCusker, M., Basset-Seguin, N., Dummer, R., Lewis, K., Schadendorf, D., Sekulic, A., Hou, J., Wang, L., Yue, H. and Hauschild, A. (2014). Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: Prognosis dependent on anatomic site and spread of disease. European Journal of Cancer, 50(4), pp.774–783. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2013.12.013.

‌Mendenhall, W.M., Ferlito, A., Takes, R.P., Bradford, C.R., Corry, J., Fagan, J.J., Rinaldo, A., Primož Stroja and d Rodrigo, J.P. (2012). Cutaneous head and neck basal and squamous cell carcinomas with perineural invasion. Oral Oncology, 48(10), pp.918–922. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.02.015.

Mikhailovna, S.Y. (2023..) Types of Scars. Available at: https://coolaser.clinic/en/news/types-of-scars/ (Accessed: 25^th February 2026)

Morar, N. (2025).. Treating skin cancer without surgery. Available at: https://www.kingedwardvii.co.uk/health-hub/treating-skin-cancer-without-surgery (Accessed: 13^th February 2026)

National Health Service (2023). a) Moles. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/moles/ (Accessed: 12^th February 2026)

National Health Service (2023b) Keloid Scars. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/keloid-scars/ (Accessed: 25^th February 2026)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2025) Scenario: Referral for suspected skin cancer. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/skin-cancers-recognition-referral/management/referral-for-suspected-skin-cancer/ (Accessed: 13^th February 2026)

Roky, A.H., Islam, M.M., Fuad, M., Mostaq, M.S., Mahmud, M.Z. Amin, M.N., and Mahmud, M.A. (2..024) Overview of skin cancer types and prevalence rates across continents. Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy, 3(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpt.2024.08.002.

Russo, G.M., Russo, A., Urraro, F., Cioce, F., Gallo, L., Belfiore, M.P., Sangiovanni, A., Napolitano, S., Troiani, T., Verolino, P., Sica, A., Brancaccio, G., Briatico, G., Nardone, V. and Reginelli, A. (2023). Management of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Radiologists Challenging and Risk Assessment. Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), [online] 13(4), p.793. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040793.

Updated February 2026 Next Review May 2028