Skin Cancer Treatments

Skin Cancer Treatments services offered in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY

Never before have there been so many top-quality skin cancer treatments. For residents of the Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Eyal Levit, MD, of Levit Dermatology, is an invaluable resource in treating skin cancer. When you’re ready to explore your options, call our office at 718-375-7546 to schedule a visit.

Skin Cancer Treatments QA

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer develops when skin cells multiply at an abnormal, uncontrolled rate. Damaged DNA triggers mutations in these cells, triggering rapid growth that forms tumors. Exposure to ultraviolet light in the form of sun exposure or using tanning beds is the primary cause of skin cancer.

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of skin cancer. Both are easily treatable and rarely fatal when caught in the early stages. Melanoma is a far more severe and aggressive form of skin cancer that spreads quickly. Although treatable in the early stages, melanoma can be deadly if left untreated or caught too late.

How does Mohs surgery treat skin cancer?

Mohs surgery is an outstanding treatment for skin cancer that also spares surrounding healthy skin. Excision is a common treatment that involves cutting away not just the cancerous lesion but also a significant amount of adjacent tissue to improve the chances of removing all cancerous cells.

With Mohs surgery, only a thin layer of cells is removed at a time. Those cells are then examined microscopically to search for signs of cancerous changes. The process repeats again and again until a layer of completely healthy and cancer-free skin is reached. Mohs surgery offers a way to remove all cancerous cells without removing healthy tissue. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, this approach also creates more aesthetically appealing scarring than excision.

What are some treatment options for melanoma?

Treating melanoma depends on how far the cancer has progressed. When melanoma is limited to the outermost layer of tissue, treatment options include simple excision, radiation therapy, Mohs surgery, or even certain topical medications. When melanoma spreads to a larger area of skin, treatment options include a wide excision procedure combined with drug therapy to prevent the cancer from returning. Lymph node testing is also usually done. Advanced melanoma is treated with wide excision combined with drug therapy, radiation, and even chemotherapy.

If you learn that you have skin cancer, know that the team at Levit Dermatology has the experience, resources, and technology needed to deliver the very highest standard of care. Call us at 718-375-7546 to schedule a visit as soon as possible.