2 chemotherapy regimens for treating skin cancer

Skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, etc., among which basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common. With the continuous improvement of medical level, the side effects of chemotherapy are gradually reduced, and skin cancer patients can be effectively treated with local and systemic chemotherapy methods.

Topical treatments

1. Fluorouracil (5-FU)

Fluorouracil is a sterile solution of 5-fluorouracil dissolved in water for injection and sodium hydroxide. It is not absorbed orally and needs to be injected. It has a good effect on skin cancer, low toxicity, and rarely leaves scars. You can also apply 5% 5-FU ointment externally, 1-2 times a day for 4 weeks. It is very effective for superficial basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in situ.

2. Bleomycin (BLM)

It is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor drug, which has therapeutic effects on squamous cell carcinoma, including head and neck, skin, esophagus, lung, cervix and other cancers. After injection, it is mainly distributed in the skin and lung. In China, 0.1% to 0.2% bleomycin ointment is often used for external application, 1 to 2 times a day. Pregnant and lactating women should use it with caution, and those with severe liver and kidney damage should not use it.

Systemic treatment

This therapy is suitable for patients with squamous cell carcinoma at the junction of the skin and mucosa that develops on the basis of existing scars and who have low immune function, as well as those with regional lymph node and distant metastasis. Patients with advanced skin cancer who have undergone surgical resection or radiotherapy should not undergo systemic chemotherapy. Bleomycin or bleomycin 10 mg/time injection is often used, 2 to 3 times a week.