Skin Cancer – Treatment options

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Treatment Options

Treatment Options depend on the type of skin cancer, its size and location, and the results of any biopsy or pathology examination. Most skin cancers are removed surgically by a Specialist Plastic Surgeon or dermatologist.

A small cancer

A small cancer may be treated with a simple excision, where the lesion is cut out and sent to a pathology laboratory for examination under a microscope. If the examination indicates that the cancer cells have been removed, further treatment may not be needed.
Suspected melanoma

For a suspected melanoma, all or part of the lesion may first be removed and examined by a pathologist. Depending on the pathology report, a wider excision may be recommended. This means removing more skin, and sometimes tissue at a greater depth, around the original site. If this creates a larger wound, a skin graft or skin flap may be needed to repair the area.
Other treatments

Other treatments may be considered in some cases. These can include cryotherapy, which freezes cancer cells; radiation therapy; medicines applied to the skin; laser treatment for some small, superficial skin cancers; and certain injected or other medicines. Not every treatment is suitable for every skin cancer.

Your treating doctor will explain the recommended approach, including its benefits, risks and limitations. The plan may change after the pathology result is available. If a skin cancer is large, has spread, or has not been completely removed, further or more extensive surgery may be required. Before deciding on treatment, ask your doctor or Specialist Plastic Surgeon to explain anything you do not understand.

Reconstruction after skin cancer removal

After a skin cancer is removed, the wound may need to be repaired. The approach depends on the size of the cancer, the amount and depth of tissue removed, and the site of the operation. The aims are to treat the cancer, close the wound and achieve the best practical functional and cosmetic outcome for the individual.

A small skin cancer may be treated with a simple excision. This can leave a thin scar and, if pathology indicates that all cancer cells have been removed, no further treatment may be needed. When a wider excision is recommended, including after the pathology assessment of a suspected melanoma, a larger wound will need repair. In this circumstance a Plastic Surgeon may need to do a skin graft or skin flap are typically more complex procedures, often requiring a hospital admission and associated with a longer recovery.

Specialist Plastic Surgeons

A Specialist Plastic Surgeon is typically involved where reconstructive surgery is needed. Specialist Plastic Surgeons are trained and qualified to perform invasive reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery. Your surgeon can discuss the available options, the likely scar, and realistic expectations for function and appearance. For a large skin cancer, or a cancer that has spread to lymph glands or elsewhere in the body, major surgery and additional treatments may be required.

Scarring is an inevitable part of any surgery. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon will aim to minimise scarring and keep it as inconspicuous as possible, but scars and the final appearance vary. Healing may also be affected by factors such as smoking or diabetes. Your surgeon will provide individual advice about the proposed repair, possible complications, wound care and follow-up.