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Types/Stages of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can be categorised into the following distinct stages:

• Stage 0: Only the outermost layer of skin contains melanoma cells, which have not invaded the deeper layers.

• Stage I: The tumour is 2 cm or smaller and has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, and other body sites.

• Stage II: The tumour is larger than 2 cm and has grown into nearby tissues like muscle, bone, or cartilage but has not spread to lymph nodes or distant body sites.

• Stage III: The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The tumour has grown in size and may have grown into nearby bone, muscle, connective tissue, or cartilage.

• Stage IV: The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body like the liver, lung, bone, or brain.

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

The symptoms can vary depending on the type of skin cancer. Common symptoms include:

• Itchy or painful spots

• An open sore that oozes, bleeds, or crusts and remains open for weeks

• A reddish patch of skin that may crust or itch

• Changes in size, shape, or colour of an existing spot, mole or freckle

• A wart-like growth, or a scaly red patch with irregular borders

• Painless, firm, shiny lumps on the skin which can be red, pink, or blue

Tests to Diagnose Skin Cancer

At Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, the best doctors for skin cancer diagnose skin cancer through the following steps:

• Visual Examination: A doctor examines the skin for any suspicious growths, lesions, or changes in existing moles or freckles.

• Dermatoscopy: A special microscope or magnifying lens is used to examine the area more closely, which helps differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous growths.

• Biopsy: A sample of the suspicious tissue is removed and sent for laboratory analysis.

• Staging: CT scans or MRI scans to check if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs, which can help determine the extent (stage) of the cancer.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Skin Cancer at Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad

At Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, the doctors for skin cancer treatment offer the following treatment options for skin cancer:

• Excision: The cancerous growth and some surrounding healthy tissue are surgically removed.

• Mohs Surgery: This involves the removal of individual layers of skin until no cancer cells are found.

• Cryosurgery: Cancerous cells are destroyed by freezing with liquid nitrogen.

• Laser Surgery: This involves a powerful laser light beam that kills cancer cells on the surface of the skin.

• Non-surgical Options: These include radiation therapy or chemotherapy creams like fluorouracil applied directly to the skin tumour.