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Skin cancer, like other forms of cancer, may require surgery to remove the cancerous growth. For cancers that have not spread, surgery may be the only type of treatment needed. Skin cancers that are more aggressive, such as melanoma, often need more extensive surgeries. If your doctor found that nearby lymph nodes are inflamed, and the cancer cells are suspected to have spread, your doctor usually will need to remove the lymph nodes.
Different surgical techniques can be used to treat skin cancer, depending on the type of skin cancer, where it is on the body, how large the cancer is, and how deep the cancer is. The following are the types of skin cancer surgery.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is performed to treat the most common skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma, as well as some kinds of melanoma and other unusual skin cancers. This surgery is designed to remove as much of the skin cancer as possible while ensuring the surrounding healthy tissue is preserved. During Mohs surgery, your surgeon removes the cancerous cells from the skin layer by layer, until only cancer-free tissue remains. It is usually used in highly visible areas, such as the face, head, or neck, in order to limit scarring. It can also be used to treat recurrent skin cancers. Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthetic, meaning only the affected area is numbed but you will remain awake during the surgery.
Excisional surgery
Excisional surgery is appropriate for any type of skin cancer. The surgeon performs an excision with a sharp razor or scalpel, shaving or cutting a growth off the skin. There are several types of excision that may be performed:
A simple excision uses a scalpel to remove the skin growth, as well as a small part of the surrounding tissue.
A wide excision involves shaving or peeling a growth off the surface of the skin using a sharp razor-like tool
Wide excision is usually used for Merkel cell carcinomas and melanoma. This type of excisional surgery removes the skin tumor as well as a wider surrounding healthy tissue. It may also extend more deeply into the skin.
Excisional surgery is done under local anesthetic.
Curettage and electrodessication
This procedure involves removing a skin lesion with a curette, which is a long, thin surgical tool with a tiny circular blade on its end for scraping. Once the lesion is scraped, the affected area is then treated through electrodesiccation, which uses an electric needle designed to reduce bleeding and kill any cancer cells that remain on the skin. The process may be carried out several times and is performed under local anesthesia.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy, is a technique to freeze and destroy cancer cells using liquid nitrogen. The technique may be repeated several times and is only used for pre-cancerous lesions and small skin cancers.
Laser surgery
During laser surgery, an intense beam of light is used to destroy cancer cells. This type of surgery is only used to treat very superficial skin cancers.
Lymph node biopsy and removal
A lymph node biopsy is often performed on patients with melanoma. During this procedure, the doctor will remove one or more sentinel lymph nodes. If no sign of cancer is found in the lymph node, no additional lymph node surgery is required. However, if melanoma cells is found in one or more sentinel lymph nodes, it may be necessary to remove the remaining lymph nodes in the area.
Surgery for metastatic skin cancer
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which are the most common types of skin cancers, normally do not metastasize. However, melanoma may travel to the bones, brain, lungs, and liver. When this happens, surgery may be needed to remove tumors from those locations. This surgery may be combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Reconstructive surgery
Skin cancer surgery may cause disfigurement or scarring, particularly when extensive surgery is required to remove cancer, or when the surgery is carried in highly visible areas, such as the hands, neck, face, or head.
Most skin cancer surgeries are performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can leave the hospital on the same day. For more extensive surgeries, you may need to stay for several days. It is recommended that you stay in Bulgaria for at least 7 to 14 days for follow up checkups and initial recovery.
Recovery time of skin cancer surgery depends on the type of surgery you have. In general, it is wise to take it easy for several days. Your doctor will give you a detailed recovery timeline, which includes when you can go back to work and resume your normal activities.
You will be given instructions following your surgery. It is important that you follow the instruction carefully. Try to avoid movements that may stress your wound and sutures, and make sure to keep the incision sites clean and well protected from potential injury. In most cases, you will have to attend a follow-up checkup to ensure cancer has not come back. However, you can choose to have this follow-up checkup with your local doctor.
Skin cancer surgery is generally safe and effective. Mohs surgery has one of the highest cure rates at up to 99%. Still, the surgery carries some potential side effects, including pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, scarring, disfigurement, fatigue, and lymphedema.
The alternative to surgery depends on the size, location, depth, and type of skin cancer. Small skin cancers limited to the surface of your skin may not need any treatment besides an initial skin biopsy. Other types of treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and biological therapy. However, in some cases, these treatments are done in conjunction with surgery.
Before skin cancer surgery, you may have a cancerous growth in your skin that causes uncomfortable and painful symptoms. In some cases, growth can be dangerous and life-threatening. After skin cancer surgery, cancer should be removed and you may be cured of cancer, allowing you to live your normal life again and improving your quality of life.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Bulgaria has plenty to offer and tourists are going to be very impressed with the country’s mountainous landscapes, beautiful Black Sea beaches, fascinating history, friendly locals, lively nightlife, and affordability. Although the country’s holiday tourism is very much on the radar, it is also actually quite popular with medical tourists, due to its modern medical centers, highly trained medical professionals, state-of-the-art equipment, affordable healthcare, and mineral baths, thousands of medical tourists visit this country each year. Most of the medical tourists come for dental treatment, orthopedic surgery, elective surgery, neurosurgery, as well as health screening.
Bulgaria’s laid-back capital city, Sofia, is truly a must-visit. It is full of museums, Ottoman mosques, communist architecture, chic galleries, Eastern Orthodox churches, amazing restaurants, and upbeat clubs. One of the most popular landmarks in the country is the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, which is an awe-inspiring church built between 1882 and 1912 to honor 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for the independence of Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish war. If you want to relax on beautiful beaches visit Varna, which is a major tourist destination during the summer. The second-largest, city in Bulgaria is Plovdiv and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Tourists are attracted by the Roman Amphitheatre, Archeological Museum, and Tsar Simeon Central Garden.
Most international tourists will arrive at Sofia Airport, which serves flights to most numerous major cities in Europe and the Middle East. There are several budget airlines that operate flights from this airport, including Ryanair and Wizz Air. Domestic flights are available, but they tend to be expensive. Therefore, to travel from one city to another, trains and buses are the best option. Buses and trains are punctual and affordable. However, if you are in a hurry, you should avoid trains as they can be a little slow. To travel around big cities, taxis are widely available and are really cheap. Just make sure you choose a licensed taxi to avoid being overcharged.
While Bulgaria is not yet a part of the Schengen Area, it has a visa policy that is based on the Schengen system. Therefore, holders of Schengen Visa are allowed to enter the country. Additionally, citizens of 62 countries, including the US, Australia, and the UAE, can stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa.
From June to August, Bulgaria experiences summer. The weather can get a bit hot and humid, with an average temperature of 19°C to 21°C. July is the wettest month in the country. Winter, from December to February, is usually freezing. Autumn and Spring bring pleasant weather.