What Are the Treatments for Skin Cancer Lesions After Removal?

After skin cancer lesions are removed, they may require further treatment. These treatments are usually minimally invasive. It is very important to receive follow-up care to be sure all cancer was removed.

Identification

• A biopsy of the removed skin will determine if the removed lesion is benign or cancerous. Cancerous lesions vary in severity and are identified as one of the following: basil cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Types

• Basil and squamous cell carcinomas are almost never life-threatening. Melanomas are potentially very dangerous, because they can metastasize into other parts of the body and become fatal.

In-Office Treatments

• If the diagnosis is basil or squamous cell carcinomas or a melanoma in situ, which means it has not metastasized beneath the skin, the patient may be asked to return the doctor to have a wider excision of the tumor. This procedure often requires stitches, depending on the margins, and will likely leave a scar.

Homecare

• After undergoing an in-office treatment to completely excise a skin cancer lesion, a patient will receive instructions on how to care for the site to prevent infection. In seven to 10 days, the doctor will require the patient to return to have the stitches removed.

Invasive Treatments

• If the lesion was a melanoma, it may have spread, so the patient will be referred to an oncologist. Further tests will be done to determine the stage of the cancer, and a treatment plan may include chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy.