Skin Growths and Skin Cancer

Some non-cancerous growths may go away on their own without treatment. Some may cause problems such as pain or infection, and removal with surgery or lasers may be advised.

Cancerous growths, or skin cancers, are usually treated by surgical removal. The scar that is left after the surgery depends on the size of the original cancer, which may be small if the cancer is caught early. However, larger or more invasive cancer types may require removal of a significant amount of skin and tissue. This may need to be replaced or reconstructed with either:

• A skin graft – a thin piece of skin that is removed from another part of your body, commonly an area with loose skin (such as your groin on neck) or from your thigh
• A flap – a thicker piece of flesh containing skin, fat and/or muscle that is transferred along with its blood supply

Depending on the type of skin cancer you have, you may require additional treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.