What should you know about excision surgery for skin cancer?

A dermatologist or surgeon numbs the area, removes the lesion and closes the wound with stitches, a dressing or, when needed, a skin graft. The surrounding tissue is examined to check whether the edges are clear of cancer cells. The required amount of tissue depends on the cancer type, its location and its depth. A larger wound may need staged closure or reconstruction, particularly on the face, hands or near a joint.

Follow the written instructions for dressing changes, washing and prescribed medicines. Keep the area protected from rubbing and avoid stretching it while the wound is healing. Attend stitch removal and pathology-result appointments. Once healed, protect the scar and surrounding skin from ultraviolet exposure and check your skin regularly for new or changing lesions. Ask the treating team how to examine areas you cannot easily see.

Contact the surgical team for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, worsening pain, pus, fever, wound separation or bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure. Seek emergency help for severe bleeding, fainting or breathing difficulty. A small amount of soreness can follow surgery, but rapidly worsening symptoms need assessment.

Ask which skin cancer is being removed, how much tissue may be taken, how the wound will close, when the pathology result is expected and whether another procedure might be needed. Ask how to protect the scar, when you can exercise and what follow-up schedule is suitable. Your clinician can explain whether the procedure is appropriate for the lesion’s site and depth.