Cyrosurgery versus Electrocautery for pre-Skin Cancer (pain, bleeding, treatment, procedure)

[sargentodiaz]

For years, my doctor has used the popular treatment of freezing those areas he – and I – identify as solar keratosis, or the first stage of skin cancer.

This last time, he surprised my with the electrocautery procedure explained at Cauterization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In some ways, it was far less painful, only the prick of the needle used to numb the area he was going to work on. Then, he burns off the area and an assistant came along with what looked like a tiny hoe to remove the burned tissue. Far less scarring and very little bleeding. He put on those small, round bandaids but most fell of within a few hours.

I liked it more than the freezing and it already appears that the scabbing is going away faster and leaving less redness.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sargentodiaz

For years, my doctor has used the popular treatment of freezing those areas he – and I – identify as solar keratosis, or the first stage of skin cancer.

This last time, he surprised my with the electrocautery procedure explained at Cauterization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In some ways, it was far less painful, only the prick of the needle used to numb the area he was going to work on. Then, he burns off the area and an assistant came along with what looked like a tiny hoe to remove the burned tissue. Far less scarring and very little bleeding. He put on those small, round bandaids but most fell of within a few hours.

I liked it more than the freezing and it already appears that the scabbing is going away faster and leaving less redness.

most doctors do the freezing for pre cancers, which I believe is what you are referring to. The actual burning is done on basel cells. Or at least that is how our derm has explained it to us.

[sargentodiaz]

Originally Posted by nmnita

most doctors do the freezing for pre cancers, which I believe is what you are referring to. The actual burning is done on basel cells. Or at least that is how our derm has explained it to us.

I've had the freezing done so many times I lost count.

Every dermatologist I've had can tell solar keritosis from carcinogenic lesions and will take samples to determine their status - then surgically removing them if they are indeed cancers.

This new procedure seems to reduce the discomfort of having lesions filled with puss and waiting for them to finally dry up and fall off.