Skin Cancer Treatment Patch

A recent study has emerged onto the dermatology market about a radioactive skin patch that has the ability to successfully treat basal cell carcinoma (the most common type of skin cancer). Basal cell carcinoma is not necessarily fatal; however for treatment it generally requires surgery for removal of the cancer cells. This patch has potential to revolutionize skin cancer treatment methods. Figures show that roughly 1 million new cases of skin cancer emerge each year in the United States, and of those cases a vast majority have a surgical procedure done to decrease the chances of the cancer spreading. Science Daily reported on the research, "The skin patch, which delivers the radioactive phosphorus-32, is nontoxic and could be an excellent alternative to surgery or radiotherapy in cases where carrying out these treatments is difficult."It's exciting to think that this patch can deliver treatment on an outpatient basis with little risk of the scarring or other complications that surgery or radiotherapy present. This study opens a new dimension not only for treating skin malignancies, but also for nuclear medicine therapy in general." The surgical removal procedure called radiotherapy requires a few days of hospitalization, costs, post-op recovery and frequent visits to a radiotherapist for check-ups. This is why dermatologists and oncologists are so thrilled at the prospect of a patch to alleviate much of the surgical hassles.