How skin
cancers are diagnosed
Usually
you’ll begin by seeing your GP, who will examine you and decide whether to
refer you to a hospital specialist for further tests and treatment.
On this
page
Biopsy
Further tests
Waiting for test results
In certain
situations, a specially trained GP may be able to remove the affected area.
However, most people with suspected skin cancer are referred to a specialist at
their local hospital for advice and treatment. A doctor who specialises in
treating skin diseases is called a dermatologist.
Biopsy
The
dermatologist will be able to tell a great deal from a simple examination of
the affected area of skin. They may use an instrument called a dermatoscope.
However,
it’s not always possible to tell the difference between skin cancers and benign
(non-cancerous) conditions just by examining the skin. The doctors may advise
you to have a tissue sample (biopsy). This is a simple procedure, which can be
done in the outpatient department using a local anaesthetic. The doctor will
remove all or part of the affected area and send it to the laboratory. It will
be examined under a microscope by a pathologist.
Further tests
If you
have a basal cell carcinoma, you probably won’t need any further tests as long
as the cancer has been completely removed. This is because basal cell
carcinomas almost never spread.
If you
have a squamous cell carcinoma, your doctor may want to examine you all over as
well as taking a biopsy. This is to make sure that you don’t need any further
treatment, as squamous cell carcinomas can occasionally spread.
Further
tests are particularly important if you’ve had treatment for skin cancer before
and it has come back. During the physical examination, your doctor may feel the
lymph nodes close to the cancer to see if any of them are enlarged.
Rarely,
your doctor may recommend that you have an operation to take biopsies of the
nearby lymph nodes if they think the cancer may have spread there. Very
occasionally, you might have ultrasound, CT or MRI scans if your doctor thinks
there’s a possibility that the cancer has started to spread. These scans are
not usually needed when you are first diagnosed. Your doctor will explain these
tests to you.
Waiting for test
results
Waiting
for test results can be a difficult time. It may take from a few days to a
couple of weeks for the results of your tests to be ready. You may find it
helpful to talk with your partner, family or a close friend. Your specialist
nurse or support organisations can also provide support. You can also talk to
our cancer support specialists.
0 Response to "How skin cancers are diagnosed"
Posting Komentar