Skin Cancer Surgery: Procedure, Recovery, Cost, Risk & Complication

Skin cancer refers to the abnormal changes in the cells of the skin’s outer layer. It is one of the most common forms of cancer. Surgery is the best treatment for skin cancer in the case of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Apart from that, the lymph nodes are also removed by surgical procedure that may have become cancerous that can gradually spread the disease to other parts of the body.

In a surgery for treating skin cancer, thin layers of the skin containing cancer are removed one by one and examined thoroughly, until only the cancer-free tissues are remaining. The procedure is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible, causing minimal damage to the healthy tissues nearby. As all cancer cells are verified during the surgical process, the chances of getting cured increases automatically without the requirement of any additional treatment.

One may have to undergo a skin cancer surgery in the following conditions:

• If the skin cancer is located around the areas where you want to preserve the remaining healthy tissues. The areas could be around your eyes, nose, mouth, hairline, hands, feet or genitals
• If the cancer is becoming large or aggressive
• When there is a risk of recurrence or it has already recurred after your previous treatment
• If the tumour is elevated or ulcerated with borders that are irregular in nature

Pre Procedure

There are certain procedures that you need to keep in mind before undergoing a skin cancer surgery:

• A pre-operative visit may be required prior to the surgery where the doctors will explain the procedure of the surgery in details
• Ensure that your surgeon is informed about the medications that you take on a regular basis, especially if you take any blood-thinners. There may be a possibility that you may have to stop having some medicines that may increase the chances of bleeding during the surgery.
• Avoid having too much of alcohol from at least a week before the surgery has been scheduled
• Do not stress yourself, have a good night’s sleep before the day of surgery

During Procedure

The procedure can last for about 4 hours. Once the area has been cleaned with an antiseptic, you will be administered with a local anaesthesia. The surgeon then removes a visible portion of the cancer and along with the underlying layer of the tissue. A temporary bandage will be then placed in the area of the incision.

The tissues will be then taken to the laboratory for examination while you have to wait in the waiting room. If cancer is detected in a small area from a tissue, the surgery will be continued in the same area from where the tissue has been taken. If cancer cells are found, the surgery continues where the surgeon removes another layer of tissues and checks for cancer. The process is repeated till the last tissue that is removed is found to be free of cancer. If required, the local anaesthesia can be administered once again.

Post Procedure

Once the procedure has been completed; the way that your wound can be repaired is decided by your doctor, taking your consent. It can be done in the following ways:

• Second intention healing, where the wound is left open so that it closes in a natural way
• Primary closure, where the wounds are closed with the help of stitches
• Shifting a bit of skin from a nearby area (skin flap) for covering the wound
• Taking a skin graft from another part of the body like from behind the ear, for covering the wound
• In case the surgical area is an extensive one, your wound may be closed temporarily and you may have to opt for reconstructive surgery for repairing the wound.

A surgery for skin cancer can have certain risks and complications such as:

• Bleeding from the area of the wound
• Hematoma, which results in bleeding into the wound
• An bacterial infection
• Pain in the area where the surgery has been performed
• It may injure the epidermis (outer layer of skin) in some cases
• Temporary or permanent numbness around the area where the surgery has been performed in case any nerve ending has been cut (rare)
• In case a muscle nerve has been severed, leading to temporary or permanent weakness in the area (rare)
• A shooting pain and itching in the affected area
• Keloid, a scar after the injury has been healed

Attend the follow-up appointments with your doctor for monitoring your recovery process and ensuring that the wound is healing in a proper manner. As there can be possibilities of the cancer to recur, schedule appointments with your doctor at regular intervals to spot any new indication of a possible skin cancer. Apart from that, avoid going out in excessive sunlight. Take suitable protection like umbrellas and hat, along with applying sunscreen when you are outdoors. Apart from that, regular physical activities can help to rebuild the strength and energy level. Quitting smoking, limiting the intake of alcohol, eating well and managing your stress is also important for complete recovery.

The cost of skin cancer surgery can be approximately Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 30,000.