LASER TREATMENT FOR SKIN CANCERS

[biggles]

I live in Angeles, grew up in OZ with British skin, so have had a lot of skin cancers. I use a great medical clinic there for laser treatment.

My partner has some Filipina friends here in Pattaya, one has some quite deep skin cancers. 

I think she went to a Beauty clinic where perhaps they use lasers to remove spots etc. They told her lasers can't do the job she wants which is not necessarily correct.

Has anyone had laser treatment locally, specifically to remove skin cancers, please? Would appreciate any info

 

[roseram88]

Dr. Nitivadee, Pattaya beach road. Make appointment by email.

I can recommend her.

She speaks fluent english (practiced there for many years). She only uses laser. Personally: I prefer the liquid oxygen treatment but each his/her own ..

http://www.lanitivadee.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=5314146

 

[Farangkie]

1 hour ago, biggles said:

 

Has anyone had laser treatment locally, specifically to remove skin cancers, please? Would appreciate any info

 

I'm Scottish, and emigrated to Australia in my 20's, lived there for 35 years, at a time when sunscreen was never used, that means Iv'e  had many skin cancers cut out back in OZ over the years.

I  get regular check up's from Dr Somnuek, his clinic is very popular and Iv'e found him to be just as good as any of the dermatologists I saw in Australia, and he doesn't have rip off prices.

 

Edited March 7 by Farangkie

[st2]

There may be a cheaper alternative: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment for actinic keratosis is significantly more cost-effective than laser treatment. 

• 5-Fluorouracil: In a 2024 Australian study, the average cost of 5-FU treatment (applied twice daily for 4 weeks) was AU$201 per patient at 12 months post-treatment.  A 2020 Dutch study reported total annual costs of €433 (approximately US$470) for 5-FU, which was significantly lower than other treatments.  Generic 5-FU cream is also available at a low price, with U.S. pricing around $83 per tube (GoodRx, April 2019).

• Laser Treatment: Costs for laser treatment typically range from $300 to $500 per session, depending on the area treated and provider.  Multiple sessions may be required, increasing the total cost.

Conclusion: 5-FU is not only far less expensive than laser treatment but also demonstrated superior cost-effectiveness and efficacy in clinical trials. It is considered the most cost-effective first-line therapy for field treatment of actinic keratosis, especially for widespread lesions. 

[Kandinski]

It may be cheaper but personally I would find other way to save (if required)

Pharmacogenomics of 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer ...

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapy drug, primarily for colorectal and aerodigestive cancers, acting as a uracil analog that interferes with DNA/RNA synthesis to induce tumor cell death. It is often used with leucovorin to enhance efficacy. While effective, it carries risks of significant side effects, including gastrointestinal toxicity, myelosuppression, and cardiotoxicity

[Pinoydave]

Whatever you do please don’t leave it until it has to be cut out…….. recovery in old age is not easy and infections are highly common 

[Kandinski]

16 hours ago, roseram88 said:

Dr. Nitivadee, Pattaya beach road. Make appointment by email.

I can recommend her.

She speaks fluent english (practiced there for many years). She only uses laser. Personally: I prefer the liquid oxygen treatment but each his/her own ..

http://www.lanitivadee.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=5314146

 

I saw Dr. Nitivadee to hear her opinion on a mole which any dermatologist  in the west could have determined visually if needed to be removed or not. She insisted it has to be removed and sent to a laboratory to be certain and instead of thb 500-1000 the bill rocketed to 11 grand.

Took a pic from her "operation room" and not impressed over the collection of used  syringes (and toothbrush).

Edit: test result came back negative; a typ example of "oversell" of medical services

Edited March 8 by Kandinski

[Lacan]

Not necessarily laser removal, but Dr. Waraporn Klanwarin at Pattaya International Hospital removed a basal cell carcinoma from my abdomen with great precision, no scar afterwards at all. Compared to the butchers at home who leave very visible scars each time they remove a mole, I'm very impressed by her work.

[Chubzilla]

On 07/03/2026 at 18:39, st2 said:

There may be a cheaper alternative: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment for actinic keratosis is significantly more cost-effective than laser treatment. 

• 5-Fluorouracil: In a 2024 Australian study, the average cost of 5-FU treatment (applied twice daily for 4 weeks) was AU$201 per patient at 12 months post-treatment.  A 2020 Dutch study reported total annual costs of €433 (approximately US$470) for 5-FU, which was significantly lower than other treatments.  Generic 5-FU cream is also available at a low price, with U.S. pricing around $83 per tube (GoodRx, April 2019).

• Laser Treatment: Costs for laser treatment typically range from $300 to $500 per session, depending on the area treated and provider.  Multiple sessions may be required, increasing the total cost.

Conclusion: 5-FU is not only far less expensive than laser treatment but also demonstrated superior cost-effectiveness and efficacy in clinical trials. It is considered the most cost-effective first-line therapy for field treatment of actinic keratosis, especially for widespread lesions. 

Can second the Fluorouracil 5% cream, very effective, cheap and simple to use and has got rid of several long term lesions I have had that I was told all need to be cut out. Also used it on my face, had lots of sun damaged skin which is all cleared up now and feels great (it was pretty uncomfortable for about a week though while it was doing its job). Mine was sourced from overseas, I believe it's not easy to get in Thailand. 

Edited April 19 by Chubzilla

[hormone]

On 07/03/2026 at 15:33, biggles said:

 one has some quite deep skin cancers.

OP talks about "cancer".   And "deep" which is something worrysome. 
First get it diagnosed properly.   
It could be a common basal cell carcinoma, which is slow growing and many are not invasive, if taken early they can easily be removed and everything is ok.  When it is "quite deep" it can be hard to remove completely just by visual examination.  Laser may not be appropriate, you usually need a real surgical excision and examination of the tissue removed to make sure the whole cancer is out (referred to as "margins are clear") .  If you miss some, it will continue invading deep and you need to cut out much more by the time you realize it's "back" (it was never gone completely).  

The 2nd common type of skin cancer is melanoma.  Laser is usually not the preferred mode of treatment unless the cancer is super early and very small (called in situ).  

[hormone]

On 07/03/2026 at 17:39, st2 said:

There may be a cheaper alternative: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment for actinic keratosis is significantly more cost-effective than laser treatment. 

Did you read the  OP??   He's talking about skin CANCER.  And DEEP.  
Actinic keratosis is NOT skin cancer.  It's sun spots.  

Yes 5-FU can potentially help for SUPERFICIAL basal cell carcinoma.   
Please don't suggest inappropriate stuff when you don't have the proper knowledge and don't make the correct correlations....    

[Jebb]

Ok guys, there already has been some good information posted, lets please do it without arguing or me hiding posts.