Excision for nonmelanoma skin cancer

Surgery Overview

Excision is the removal of a skin cancer along with some of the healthy skin tissue around it (margin). For this procedure, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area.

After the cancerous area is removed, the incision is closed with stitches. If the incision is large, sometimes a skin graft or flap is required. Reconstructive surgery may be necessary if the excision surgery creates a scar.

What To Expect After Surgery

Recovery from skin cancer surgery varies depending on the site and how much skin is removed.

Why It Is Done

Excision is used to remove a skin cancer:

• For both primary (first-time) and recurrent (returning) skin cancer.
• For basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.
• At sites where the risk of recurrence is high, such as on the face.

Excision is very effective for most squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas that are smaller than 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter and extend into the inner layer (dermis) of the skin.

How Well It Works

Excision treatment for basal cell carcinoma less than 2 cm (0.8 in.) wide has cure rates as high as 98 out of 100.¹ When excision is used to treat squamous cell carcinoma, the cure rate is over 90%.²

Risks

Risks of using excision to remove skin cancers include the following:

• The wound may bleed, cause pain, or become infected.
• Scarring may occur.
• A skin graft may not heal.
• All cancer cells may not be removed, leaving a margin that has cancer cells.

What To Think About

The edges (margins) of the skin where a skin cancer was removed will be examined in a lab by a pathologist to see whether any cancer cells still remain outside the area of skin that was removed. It is extremely important that the entire skin cancer be removed to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Complete the surgery information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.

Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: November 22, 2006
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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