If you’re having a general anaesthetic or sedation, it'll be administered through a cannula (a small plastic tube placed into a vein in your arm or hand). You may also have an intravenous drip.
Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the surgeon will start the procedure.
If the tumour hasn’t spread, it'll be removed (along with the surrounding skin) and the wound will be closed with sutures.
If the tumour is large in size or requires a complex surgery due to the site, a larger portion of skin will be excised to ensure all the cancer cells have been removed. Closure may require either skin grafting (where a layer of skin is taken from another area of your body and carefully placed over the wound) or a skin flap (where skin from an adjacent area of the body is moved).
Typically, you'll know if you need a skin graft beforehand. A dressing will be placed over the wound site and left on for several days. Another dressing will be placed over the site where the graft was taken.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Information is provided by HCF in good faith for the convenience of members. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of any form of treatment nor is it a substitute for medical advice, and you should rely on the advice of your treating doctors in relation to all matters concerning your health. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however HCF takes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or other consequences of the use of this information.