Skin Cancer Surgery
About Skin Cancer Surgery
Surgery to remove skin cancer (surgical excision) is the most common treatment for invasive basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
What happens during surgery?
The doctor will inject a local anaesthetic to numb the affected area, then cut out the skin cancer and some nearby normal-looking tissue (margin). The recommended margin is usually between 2 mm and 10 mm depending on the type and location of the skin cancer.
A pathologist checks the margin for cancer cells to make sure the cancer has been completely removed. The results will be available in about a week. If cancer cells are found at the margin, you may need further surgery or radiation therapy.