Excisional Surgery
During this procedure, the entire tumor is removed along with a safety margin of normal epidermis. The tissue is sent to a laboratory to ensure that the removed margins are free of cancerous cells. Depending on its size and location, the wound could be left open to recover. If lab results indicate that skin cancer has spread to the patient’s margins, the patient may require additional surgery.
This procedure is favored for Basel cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, and it may also be used for melanoma. If cancer is detected at an early stage, it may require no further treatment.
