Skin cancer

For a long time the surgical removal of the tumor was the gold standard of treatment. This is still the case today for deep penetrating tumors. However, for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas, especially in the facial area, the most modern forms of therapy without surgery are available. Local therapy using an immunomodulating preparation or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Using PDT, several sessions are usually necessary for complete removal of the tumor. These local therapies often save surgical treatments, especially in the facial area, where we must not lose sight of the aesthetics. When the first step of therapy, the removal of the tumor, is completed, we conduct regular follow-up visits to detect and treat any emerging malignant lesions early on. Of course, we recommend the application of special sunscreens, adjusted to the individual skin type, for further prevention. In the rare event that a basal cell carcinoma is already significantly advanced locally and is therefore no longer available for surgical or local therapy, there is a drug therapy, which leads in most cases to a significant reduction in tumor area. Our ordination has many years of experience with this systemic "hedgehog inhibitor" therapy.

In heavily photodamaged skin (face, bald, forearms and hands) and with certain predisposition, so-called "actinic keratoses" often develop in older people. These are sharply defined, reddened areas of the skin, which usually carry a firmly adhering dandruff. They are often considered to be "dry skin". Squamous cell carcinoma can evolve on the basis of these changes - but this does not have to be the case with every patient. Actinic keratoses can be removed very easily by local measures such as cold, ablation, various local therapies or photodynamic therapy or the use of lasers. However, the damage always affects a larger area (“field damage”), this is the reason why affected people need to be monitored regularly and treatments have sometimes to be repeated.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer. The highest risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma possess fair-skinned people. It mainly affects older people who have been exposed to the sun for many years (decades). Unfortunately, squamous cell carcinomas are also increasingly affecting younger patients due to the changed leisure habits. In addition to permanent exposure to natural light, radioactive radiation, radiation treatments (light and X-ray radiation), chronic inflammation and particularly pronounced scars can be causally involved in the development. Organ transplants or immunosuppression (illness or medication-related inhibition of the immune system) additionally increase the risk for the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin manyfold.

Squamous cell carcinomas are malignant skin tumors, which through local unrestrained growth destroy adjacent structures and thus cause great damage. By early, complete removal, squamous cell carcinomas of the skin can usually be finally and completely cured. Dislocation into distant organs (metastasis) is relatively rare in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, but more common in thicker primary tumors or at specific anatomical sites like earlobes, lips, genital area. The highest risk for metastasis exists in the immunosuppressed patient, e.g. after organ transplants. Therefore, it is extremely important to contact us even with the smallest unclear change of the skin. Thus, in most cases, by early detection and treatment, we can avoid dire consequences.