Melanoma Surgery: Effective Treatment with Wide Excision
Understanding Wide Excision Surgery
Following a melanoma diagnosis, your doctor will determine the best treatment plan based on tumour location, the stage of the cancer, and your general health. Surgery is almost always involved in the treatment plan for melanoma.
In wide excision surgery, your doctor will inject a local anaesthetic then remove the cancerous tumour as well as a border of surrounding skin that is assumed to be healthy as a safety margin. The amount of “healthy” skin removed is determined by factors including the thickness of the melanoma (thicker tumours require bigger margins) and the location of the melanoma (tumours on the face may involve smaller margins to minimize scarring). A sample of the margin of skin removed is then sent to the laboratory to look for cancer cells.
Personalized Treatment for Melanoma
Melanoma surgery is a crucial step in treating melanoma, focusing on the removal of cancerous tissue and ensuring that surrounding areas are cancer-free. The treatment plan is tailored based on the tumour’s location, the cancer stage, and your overall health, with surgery as a core component to increase the chances of successful treatment.
Individualized Treatment Planning:
A treatment plan is customized based on the location and stage of melanoma and the patient’s overall health.
Wide Excision Surgery Process::
- Local anaesthetic is administered to ensure comfort during the procedure.
- The cancerous tumour is surgically removed, along with a margin of surrounding healthy skin.
Safety Margin for Complete Removal:
- The amount of surrounding skin removed is based on melanoma thickness, with thicker tumours requiring wider margins.
-Melanomas in delicate areas, such as the face, may involve smaller margins to reduce visible scarring.
Lab Analysis for Cancer Cells:
A sample of the removed margin is sent to the lab to confirm the absence of cancer cells, ensuring thorough treatment.
