The treatment of choice of virtually all types of skin cancer is Surgical Excision. This applies to Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Melanoma – the three most common skin cancers in the UK.
Once a diagnosis of skin cancer is made, the growth and a predetermined safety margin need to be excised. This is because skin cancers have the tendency to grow finger link projections around them which can not be easily seen with the naked eye. Once the tumour is removed, the wound is mended usually using stitches. The skin that has been excised is sent for testing under the microscope.
This depends on the type of skin cancer that is being treated, and it is best to discuss this with your Dermatologist.
What happens if there is not enough skin to mend a wound after a Skin Cancer has been removed?
We harness our expertise in various skin surgery techniques to either move skin from nearby (this is known as a skin flap) or from another site of the body (this is known as a skin graft). Different methods of repairing wounds are shown in the diagram below.