Skin cancer surgery

Skin cancer surgery

Skin cancer surgery: Skin cancer surgery involves removing cancerous skin and rejoining the remaining skin with tiny sutures; the extent of skin removal and need for a skin graft depends on how deep and wide the cancer has spread.

Diseases And Conditions Treated: Skin cancer surgery

These diseases and conditions may be treated with the surgical procedure Skin cancer surgery:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma
• Actinic keratosis
• Bowen disease
• Merkel cell carcinoma

Non-Surgical Options: Skin cancer surgery

These non-surgical medical options may be possible alternative treatments to performing Skin cancer surgery:

• Cryotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Chemotherapy cream
• Immune response therapy

Other Surgical Options: Skin cancer surgery

Surgical procedure options to consider as an alternative for Skin cancer surgery may include these surgeries:

• Laser surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Curettage and electrodessication
• Microscopically-controlled surgery (Mohs surgery)

Anesthetic Requirements for Skin cancer surgery

These surgical anesthetic requirements for the procedure Skin cancer surgery may include:

• Local anesthetic, but general anesthetic may be used for more invasive procedures

Procedure Complications: Skin cancer surgery

Possible surgical complications of Skin cancer surgery may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Scarring
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Cancer not completely removed

Prognosis for a Good Outcome: Skin cancer surgery

The prognosis for a good medical outcome: The cancerous skin will most likely be completely excised, but skin cancer can come back (in ~50% of patients) even if precautions are taken to stay out of the sun.

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