Treating skin cancer usually begins with the excision of the skin affected by the cancer. This may mean a basic burning, more in-depth scraping, or even a complete excision of the afflicted skin layers to ensure all of the cancer has been removed.
Caring for the wound properly is vital to increase healing, prevent infection, and minimise scarring, which, depending on the location of the cancer, can be very important to patients.
Skin cancer recurrence is relatively low (less than 5% in most cases), but those who have had Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma removed have a ten-fold increase in their skin cancer risk.
But taking care of the wound properly can help to decrease the risk of a recurrence by helping to boost immunity, protect the skin, and make patients more aware of skin changes, which could warn of possible issues.
While most skin cancer wounds are relatively small, it’s important to understand that they must be treated as any other surgical wound.
Remember, good blood supply to the wound is essential for the body to produce enough collagen to heal even the smallest wound. Infection is always a risk, so keeping the wound clean is essential during the healing process.
Here are some basic tips for wound care following your skin cancer removal but remember to always follow the instructions and advice of your medical professional:
While most skin cancer removal surgeries are conducted with no problems, it is important to watch out for bleeding and infection to ensure a safe outcome. If you notice that your wound is bleeding or it is becoming red, swelling, or showing other signs of infection, call your doctor right away.
Whether you're concerned about skin cancer risk or have recently undergone skin cancer removal and seek ongoing monitoring for early detection, reach out to MoleMap for comprehensive skin check and full body mole check.
MoleMap skin cancer clinic exists to give patients peace of mind by achieving one of two outcomes: “Great, I know that I don’t have melanoma” or “I’m glad it was found early so it can be treated.”
