Comprehensive Guide of Skin Cancer Treatment in India

• Exceptional medical professionals: The doctors and surgeons are highly skilled and have an immense level of expertise. The doctors discuss the procedure and risks of skin cancer treatment.
• Renowned hospitals: Hospitals in India are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and the latest technology for major and minor surgeries. Specialized intensive care units.
• Affordable cost: The cost of treatment, transportation, medication, post-operative care, etc. are affordable compared to other countries. Medical procedure packages are also available that include hotel charges, flight charges, etc.

Stages wise Treatment Options for Skin Cancer in India

>>Stage 0: It is also called in situ melanoma. This type of cancer is confined to the top skin layer or the epidermis, which means cancer has not spread to the second skin layer or the dermis. It is not more than 2mm. It is not considered to be invasive melanoma. Cancer has not spread to lymph nodes. The treatment option can be surgery. It costs USD

It is also called TisNOMO. 

• Tis: The tumor is in situ and is found only on the top layer.
• NO: The melanoma has not spread to the lymph nodes
• MO: The melanoma has not spread to the other regions in the body

>>Stage 1: It is present in the epidermis and dermis. The tumor is 2 mm thick and may not or may have ulceration. Cancer may not have spread to lymph nodes. It is not invasive. Ulceration occurs when the epidermis covering the part of primary melanoma is not intact. This can only be seen under a microscope. The treatment option for this is wide local excision.

• Stage IA: The tumors formed are lesser than 0.8 mm and are without ulceration
• Stage IB: The tumors are larger than 1mm but less than and/or tumors up to 2mm, without ulceration.

>>Stage 2: Cancer is in the epidermis and dermis layers. Ulceration can be seen but there is no evidence of spreading to the lymph nodes or any other body parts. The is a high risk of local recurrence for distant and regional metastases. The treatment options include surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and immunotherapy.

• Stage IIA: Cancer is 1.01 to 4.0 mm thick without ulceration.
• Stage IIB: The tumor is 2.01 to 4.0 mm thick but there is ulceration.
• Stage IIC: The tumor is larger than 4.0 thick and has ulceration.

>>Stage 3: In this, the tumor has spread to the regional lymph nodes or in-transit deposits are formed but there may not be metastasis to other body parts. It has spread beyond the local or primary tumor to the nearby lymph nodes.

• Stage IIIA: The tumor is no larger than 2mm thick and the small tumors have spread to the lymph nodes nearby. Ulceration may be present in the primary tumor.
• Stage IIIB: The tumor is not more than 4mm thick. The primary tumor may not be present but cancer has spread to surrounding lymph nodes or small regions close to the lymph nodes.
• Stage IIIC: the primary tumor cannot be seen and cancer has spread to two or more lymph nodes or to the smaller regions in the skin or to the clumped lymph nodes.

>>Stage 4: In this, cancer has spread beyond the original site of the tumor and beyond the regional lymph nodes to further areas in the body. The distant regions include lungs, lymph nodes, bone, liver, brain, and/or intestines.

• The level of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may or may not increase. But it is an important evaluation as it indicates the burden of the tumor and possibly how aggressive the tumor is. It actually reveals the amount of cancer in the boy. A higher LDH level means a higher level of cancer in the body. The treatment options include wide local excision, systemic therapies, radiation therapy, etc.

Types of Skin Cancer

1. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): This is the most common form of skin cancer. It usually develops in fair-skinned people but can affect anyone.

• It often looks like a round flesh colored, with a pinkish skin patch or bumps that look like a pearl.
• It usually develops after frequent exposure to the sun or indoor tanning.
• It is common for bcc to appear on the arms, neck, and head, though it can form on any other body part like the legs, chest, and abdomen.
• BCC can grow deep and penetrate bones and nerves, causing disfigurement and damage.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): After BCC, SCC is the most common kind of skin cancer. Light-skinned people are mostly affected by this but it can affect anyone with darker skin tones as well.

• It appears as scaly patches, re-opening sores after healing, and firm red bumps.
• It usually develops on skin that is frequently exposed to the sun like the face, arms, rim of the ear, and back.
• It grows deep in the skin and causes disfigurement and damage. Early detection and treatment can prevent it from spreading deeper into the skin.
• Some people develop scaly, dry spots or patches called actinic keratoses on their skin. It is pre-cancerous that can turn into SCC.

3. Melanoma: It is often called the most serious form of cancer because it is prone to spreading. Melanoma can develop within an already present mole on the skin or can appear as a dark spot suddenly that seems different from other spots.

Warning signs for melanoma can be checked through ABCDEs of melanoma-

• A or Asymmetry– if one half is different than the other in a spot
• B or Border– the spot has a poorly defined, irregular, or scalloped border.
• C or Color– The spot appears in varying colors in different areas like shades of brown, tan, black, blue, red, or white.
• D or Diameter– The size is greater than 6mm at the time of diagnosis. They can be smaller as well.
• E or Evolving– The spot looks different in shape, color, and size than the others.

4. Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: T cells help in preventing infections. This type of cancer develops in the white blood cells. They are present on the skin as a first line of defense. It can be of two types-

• Mycosis fungoides– It is the most common kind of CTCL. This worsens gradually. It appears like a rash for years at the earliest stage. At this stage, it looks like psoriasis or eczema and is often difficult to diagnose.
• Sezary syndrome– It is a more aggressive type of CTCL. It appears in the form of eczema with red and swollen skin in most areas of the body. The skin feels sore, extremely itchy, and hot.

5. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): It is a rare form of skin cancer. It develops in the middle layer or dermis of the skin, grows gradually, and does not spread to other body parts. If untreated, DFSP can grow deep into bone, muscle, and fat.

6. Merkel Cell Carcinoma: It is a rare form of skin cancer and is also called neuroendocrine carcinoma. It usually appears to be a bluish-red nodule or flesh-colored. It often develops because of a weak immune system and years of sun exposure in older people. It can appear on the neck, face, and head.

7. Sebaceous Carcinoma: It is a rare form of skin cancer and is aggressive. It forms in the eyelids and the sebaceous glands on the skin. A tumor that is round, painless, and firm develops on the lower or upper eyelid.

Top Skin Cancer Treatment Hospital in India

>>Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta

Apollo Hospital has been accredited by NABH and JCI credentials. It has a 250-bed capacity. It has technologies like 3 Tesla MRI, 120 slice CT angiogram, 4-D Ultrasound for 4-dimensional sonography, Digital Fluoroscopy, Gamma Camera, etc. It also houses The Minimal Access Surgery Centre (MASC) center of excellence.

>>Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre, Faridabad

Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre have been accredited with NABL and NABH credentials. It has a 500-bed capacity and 65 ICU beds. It has technologies like 128 Slice CT scans, 500 MA X-Ray, 1.5 Tesla MRI, Mammography facilities, Cancer Centres, etc. Special oncology centers for all kinds of cancer have been a recent addition.

>>Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet

Yashoda Hospital has been accredited with NABL and FICCI credentials. It has 1710 bed capacity across 3 of its own hospitals and 3 cancer institutes. It houses high-tech labs and modular operation theaters, Digital X-Rays, Ultrasonography, CT 64 Slices MRI, etc.

>>Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali

Max Super Speciality Hospital has been accredited with NABH and NABL credentials. It has a 370-plus capacity and 15-plus specialties. 14 high-end modular operation theatres, 3D (4D) imaging, 3.0 Tesla digital boundaries MRI, Da Vinci Xi Robotic System, etc.

>>Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has been accredited with ISO and JCI credentials. It has technologies like 64-Slice Scan coupled with data acquisition, Spect-CT, Pet-CT, Fibroscan, NovalistTx, HDR-Brachytherapy, DSA Lab, etc. It has online doctor consultations and rehabilitation facilities.

Facilities provided by hospitals in India

• The hospitals provide well-equipped operation theatres with modern treatment options and facilities for major and minor procedures.
• Intensive care units that handle emergencies and provide post-operative care.
• Diagnostic testing includes CT scans, MRIs, biopsies, and blood tests.
• A dedicated board of doctors and surgeons for treating skin and other cancers

Top Doctors India for Skin Cancer Treatment

Qualification: MBBS, DNB

• He has fellowships in Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Rizzoli Institute of Orthopaedics, National Centre for Spinal Disorders, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
• He has memberships from IOA, DOA, IMSOS, and MNAMS
• He has successfully provided treatment for primary and metastatic tumors of the spine, soft tissues, bones, etc.

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Qualification: MBBS, MS

• He has a fellowship from Rotary Cancer Hospital and AIIMS
• He is a member of the IASO, ASI, IHPBA, AMASI, IAGES, ESSO, ISO, EUSOMA, and IASG associations.
• He has successfully performed procedures like colorectal cancer treatment, hemicolectomy, Whipple’s procedure, breast cancer treatment, etc.

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Qualification: MBBS, MD, DM

• She is a member of ESMO, MASCC, ASCO, and IJSPRO
• She offers cancer treatments through biological therapies, targeted treatments, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy.
• She has successfully treated diseases like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, meningitis, stomach cancer, etc.

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Qualification: MBBS, MS, MCh

• He has memberships from SSAT, IASG, ISOT, ASI, ACRSI, and IAGES.
• He has certifications from FALS, FAIS, and FACRSI
• He has successfully performed procedure hemicolectomy, stomach cancer treatment, colorectal treatment, Whipple’s procedure, etc.

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Qualification: MBBS, MS

• She is a member of ASI, ABSI, and IASO
• She has successfully treated diseases like brain, lung, cervical, oral, breast, colon, and ovarian cancer.
• She has been Registrar in the Breast Unit at Lady Hardinge Medical College

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Qualifications Required for Doctors to Treat Skin Cancer in India

• A board or team of doctors for skin cancer include:
• Dermatologist
• Medical oncologist
• Plastic Surgeon
• Mohs Surgeon
• Radiologist
• Pathologist
• Physician Assistant
• Primary care physician

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer

There are various signs and symptoms of skin cancer:

1. Basal Cell Carcinoma-

• A waxy or pearly bump
• A flat, brown or flesh-colored lesion
• A scabbing or bleeding sore that heals but returns.

2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma-

• A red and firm nodule
• A flat crusted and scaly surface

3. Melanoma-

• A large spot that is brown and has darker speckles
• A mole that changes in size, color, or bleeds
• A small lesion that has an irregular border and has parts of pink, blue, black, red, and white
• Pain in the lesion that burns or itches
• Dark lesions on the soles, fingertips, palms or toes or the mucous lining of nose, vagina, mouth or anus.

4. Merkel Cell Carcinoma-

• Shiny and firm nodules just below the hair follicles and skin
• Mostly found on the neck, head, and trunk

5. Sebaceous gland Carcinoma-

• It originates from the oil glands of the skin
• Commonly appears as painless and hard nodules
• It can develop anywhere but most commonly appears on the eyelids

Causes of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is caused when mutations occur in the DNA of the skin cells. Due to this, the skin cells grow out of control and form a mass called a tumor or cancer.

• Long hours spent under the sun leads to exposure to UV rays
• People who get sunburnt or have a sunburn history
• People who live in high altitudes or sunny regions
• People who use tanning beds
• People born with light-colored eyes, red or blond hair with fair or freckled skin
• People who have irregular or many moles
• A history of skin cancer in the family
• People who have had organ transplants
• People who have actinic keratosis (rough, dark pink to brown, scaly patches)
• People who take medications that weaken or suppress the immune system
• People who have undergone UV light therapy for treating psoriasis and eczema

Precautions for Skin Cancer

• Seek shade when appropriate: The rays of the sun are strongest from 10 am to 3 pm and being exposed to the sun during this time can increase the risk of skin cancer. If one’s shadow is shorter than oneself, one should seek shade.
• Wearing sun-protective clothing: Clothes such as lightweight long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, etc. can help in decreasing the risk of skin cancer. If possible, one should buy clothes with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF)
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen: Sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more should be applied. Broad-spectrum sunscreens provide protection against UVA and UVB rays.
• Being cautious near sand, water, and snow: All of these reflect the harmful rays of the sun that increases the risk of sunburn and hence, ultimately cause skin cancer.
• Avoid tanning beds: They emit 3 times more UV rays than the sun. These layers penetrate deep into the skin and cause skin cancer and premature aging. Using self-tanning products can reduce the risk of this.
• Performing regular self-exams: If one notices any suspicious or unusual spots, sores, patches, changes in skin colour, itching, bleeding, etc.

Survival Rate of Skin Cancer Treatment in India

There is a 95% survival rate for the 5-year mark for people diagnosed and treated before melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes. If it spreads to the lymph nodes, the survival rate is reduced to 68%. If cancer spreads to distant organs, the survival rate reduces further to 30%.

Why do foreigners choose India for Skin Cancer Treatment?

Foreigners choose India for its affordable cost of treatment, world-class infrastructures of hospitals, and highly skilled medical professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions