Prior to Procedure

Depending on the stage of the disease, your doctor may do the following:

• Physical exam of skin
• Skin biopsy of any other suspicious areas to look for cancer cells
• Blood tests
• Image tests such as chest x-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, or PET scan

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is often used to numb the area where the cancer is removed. General anesthesia may need to be used if the area is large. In this case, you will be asleep.

Description of the Procedure    TOP

Surgical removal of the cancer cells is the primary treatment for melanoma. Types of surgery include:

• Simple excision—The tumor is cut out. A small amount of normal skin at the edges is also removed. The wound is stitched back together. This type of surgery may leave a scar.
• Wide excision—The tumor is cut out along with a larger area of normal skin. This will help make sure there are no cancer cells left behind.
• Amputation—If the cancer is on a finger or toe, it may need to be cut away from the hand or foot.
• Lymph node dissection—Nearby lymph nodes may be removed if there is concern that the cancer has spread. The nodes will be examined for the presence of cancer cells.

The area may be closed with stitches. A larger area may need to be covered with a skin graft from another area of your body.

How Long Will It Take?    TOP

This depends on the extent of the melanoma and the type of surgery. Simple excision can take less than 1 hour.

Will It Hurt?    TOP

Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. You may have some pain around the wound during recovery. Medication will help manage pain.

Postoperative Care    TOP

After a rest, you will be able to return home the same day. Your doctor will want to check on your progress and remove stitches or staples in. It is important to go to any appointments as recommended.

In more advanced cases of melanoma, other treatments may be necessary. These include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immunotherapy

Having melanoma puts you at risk for developing more. Talk to your doctor about ways to protect your skin against sun damage. These may include using sun block and wearing protective clothing.

You will also need to have regular skin exams to look for any return of cancer cells. Do self-exams to look for any new or changing moles. Your doctor can show you how to do a self-exam.