Skin Cancer Surgery

Skin Cancer Surgery

Skin Cancer Surgery services offered in Lansdale, PA

Skin cancer surgery can take several paths, but the ultimate goal is always to eliminate cancerous growths permanently. At the medical practice of Allan Mineroff, MD, PC in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, the team comprised of board-certified dermatologists Allan Mineroff, MD, Kristen Foering, MD, MTR, and Erin Santa, MD, FAAD, offers traditional and advanced approaches to skin cancer surgery to meet the full spectrum of patient needs. Have a suspicious-looking skin growth? Book your appointment online or call the office to schedule a consultation now.

Skin Cancer Surgery Q & A

What is skin cancer surgery?

Skin cancer surgery is a group of procedures that remove cancerous lesions (growths) from the skin. This type of surgery treats various kinds of cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. 

How does skin cancer surgery work?

Skin cancer surgery approaches can vary widely with the specific type of cancer, its location, stage, and other individual factors. The Allan Mineroff, MD, PC team may perform procedures such as:

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

Curettage is the scraping of cancerous tissue from the skin. After curettage, electrosurgery heat application to stop bleeding and kill lingering cancer cells completes the procedure. 

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery involves topical application of a skin-freezing substance (liquid nitrogen) to destroy cancerous cells. The treated tissue then scabs and falls off sometime in the next several weeks. 

Shave excision

A shave excision uses a blade to shave or scoop away cancerous cells on the skin surface. 

Simple excision

A simple excision uses a scalpel to remove the cancerous tissue and a small amount of the healthy tissue around it. 

Wide local excision

A wide local excision procedure uses a scalpel to remove the cancerous lesion along with the healthy tissue at its borders. This procedure is usually for larger or more aggressive skin cancers and thus removes more tissue than a simple excision.

Mohs surgery

Mohs surgery is a highly advanced surgical procedure that involves removing cancerous tissue in layers, with microscopic exams of the removed tissue happening after each layer removal. This approach ensures you lose only the cancerous tissue and preserves as much of your healthy surrounding tissue as possible. 

Photodynamic Therapy

While not a surgical procedure, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for precancerous lesions called actinic keratosis. Treating suspicious lesions with PDT may help you avoid skin cancer surgery later. It may also be an option for low-risk basal cell carcinoma.

When might I need skin cancer surgery?

If you’re diagnosed with any type of skin cancer, you need to treat that lesion as soon as possible. Skin cancer surgery is usually the best way to do so. 

Although some cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, don’t spread nearly as often as melanoma, they can still grow larger and deeper and cause significant problems.

Treating skin cancer in its early stages ensures that you minimize your health risks as much as possible while also avoiding disfiguring growths and larger surgical scars. 

If you’re concerned about a skin growth, schedule your exam by calling Allan Mineroff, MD, PC, or simply click on the online booking link now.