Most skin cancers are highly treatable in their earliest stages, but allowing them to progress without treatment can allow cancer to spread into the lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect from skin cancer surgery?
If skin cancer is diagnosed, you’ll be treated according to the type of cancer, its location, and its stage. The vast majority of skin cancers are either basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas, each of which has extremely high survival rates. These are removed via minor surgery procedures performed in our offices. Most require only a small amount of injected local anesthesia. After the cancer is removed, the dermatologist may place stiches to close the wound. Our providers take great care to minimize scarring, particularly in aesthetically sensitive areas.
If the cancer is a melanoma, your doctor may excise the cancer in office, or if it is an advanced melanoma, refer you to a oncologic surgeon.
You can learn more about skin cancer from the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation.