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Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Patient Version
Last Modified: 05/02/2011

Treatment Options for Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratosis is not cancer but is treated because it may develop into cancer. Treatment of actinic keratosis may include the following:

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with actinic keratosis 1. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site 2.



Glossary Terms

actinic keratosis (ak-TIH-nik KAYR-uh-TOH-sis)
A thick, scaly patch of skin that may become cancer. It usually forms on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, scalp, back of the hands, or chest. It is most common in people with fair skin. Also called senile keratosis and solar keratosis.
cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
cryosurgery (KRY-oh-SER-juh-ree)
A procedure in which tissue is frozen to destroy abnormal cells. Liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is used to freeze the tissue. Also called cryoablation and cryosurgical ablation.
curettage (kyoo-reh-TAZH)
Removal of tissue with a curette (a spoon-shaped instrument with a sharp edge).
dermabrasion (DER-muh-BRAY-zhun)
A type of surgery used to make the skin smooth and to improve the way deep scars, pits, and wrinkles look. After numbing the skin, a doctor removes the top layer of skin using sandpaper or a brush or burr (small file) that spins at a high speed.
electrodesiccation (ee-LEK-troh-deh-sih-KAY-shun)
The drying of tissue by a high-frequency electric current applied with a needle-shaped electrode.
excision (ek-SIH-zhun)
Removal by surgery.
laser surgery (LAY-zer SER-juh-ree)
A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.
photodynamic therapy (FOH-toh-dy-NA-mik THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light. These activated drugs may kill cancer cells.
topical chemotherapy (TAH-pih-kul KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment with anticancer drugs in a lotion or cream applied to the skin.

Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?Diagnosis=38788&tt=1&a
mp;format=1&cn=1
2http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials