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Nikki Hunter is a fine advocate for Melanoma UK and she is right that amidst the negatives we see, a positive message deserves to be sent.
The video refers to immunotherapy and targeted therapy, where either your immune system is harnessed to fight melanoma, or targeted agents block the growth of cancerous cells. Vital tools to combat advanced melanoma.
Surgery can also be a part of that fight and in earlier stage skin cancers, is the primary treatment. As with advanced cases, surgery has not stood still, or the methods used to identify skin cancer at an early stage.
We felt that highlighting a few elements of this would be in line with Nikki’s request for positive information, to support patients.
Prompt Diagnosis
A consultant’s experience remains the key to accurate diagnosis, although the latest technology can assist. Modern dermoscopes provide a view of colour and structure well beyond the naked eye, confocal microscopes look even deeper.
We were the first UK private practice to offer confocal, laser scanning microscopy and this has proved helpful to our patients. The device can literally see beneath your skin and does so in real time, adding speed to diagnosis.
In dermoscopy and confocal microscopy, high resolution images can be recorded for further study. Neither are the approaches limited to diagnosis, post treatment monitoring can be aided by a fresh, in depth view, or by previous images.
Effective Treatment
Surgical techniques have advanced in recent years, from the instruments used, to ways of preventing infection. Wider use of Mohs surgery has benefited many patients, a technique with a high cure rate which minimises aesthetic damage.
For cases where non invasive treatment is the best option, skin cancer can be treated using photodynamic therapy. A photosensitising agent is applied to your skin, before a light similar to a diffused laser causes this to react with oxygen and destroy cancerous cells.
For pre-cancers, such as actinic keratosis, a light sensitising cream and sunlight can do the same. Finding good sunlight at the right time can be a limiting factor, the reason we built a simulated daylight photodynamic therapy room.
Preventative Action
There is no better result than finding a skin cancer before you knew this existed, or before you were likely to see a problem.
The technology behind modern skin cancer screening offers this. Detailed views across your skin can be recorded and if there is the slightest change at a future visit, specialist software recognises the variation.
A consultant is on hand to carry out a detailed examination and a nascent skin cancer can often be identified on the spot. No loss in time for diagnosis, or to arrange what is likely to be minor treatment.
A good proportion of our patients opt for annual checks, so that any issues are found at an early stage. Bespoke screening programs can be provided, for those at higher risk due to genetic factors, or previous cancers.
Technology & Support
We are pleased to offer the latest technology, which patients deserve and we hope you found this being mentioned helpful. The root of all good care is still remembering that patients have unique needs and feelings.
The equipment helps greatly but there should be care to ensure this doesn’t take over, so people feel they are being processed through a system.
Coping with illness deserves support and the better you feel about treatment you receive, the faster you recover. As with fresh drugs for advanced care, we are appreciative of new methods, as part of solutions.
A balanced approach to skin cancer treatment is the most effective, where technology, individual care and the knowledge of specialists blend together.