Skin Cancer

Overview

Skin cancer develops when skin cells grow abnormally, most often as a result of ultraviolet (UV) damage from sunlight or tanning beds. The three main types are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) — the common non-melanoma skin cancers — and melanoma, which arises from pigment-producing cells and is more likely to spread if not treated early.

Most skin cancers are highly treatable, especially when found early, and many are cured with a relatively minor procedure. Melanoma and advanced cases require more careful, coordinated care. Treatment is guided by the type, thickness, location and stage of the cancer, and by the person's overall health.

This page is an educational overview only and is not medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment must be arranged with a qualified dermatologist or oncology team, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

Who May Need This

Anyone with a new, changing, non-healing or bleeding skin lesion should have it assessed. Risk is higher in people with fair skin that burns easily, a history of sunburn or heavy UV exposure, many moles or atypical moles, a weakened immune system, older age, and a personal or family history of skin cancer.

People who have already had a skin cancer are at increased risk of developing another and benefit from regular skin checks. Only a clinician can determine whether a lesion is cancerous and what treatment, if any, is needed, usually after examination and sometimes a biopsy.

When It May Be Recommended

Treatment is recommended once a biopsy confirms skin cancer, or sometimes when a lesion is highly suspicious. For most non-melanoma cancers, removal is advised promptly because they can grow and damage surrounding tissue. For melanoma, timely wider removal and assessment of the lymph nodes are important because early treatment strongly influences outcome.

The specific treatment and its urgency depend on the type, size, depth and site of the cancer, and whether there are signs of spread. A dermatologist, plastic surgeon or oncologist makes the recommendation after full assessment, often within a multidisciplinary team for melanoma.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

Diagnosis usually begins with a clinical skin examination, often using a dermatoscope (a special magnifier), followed by a biopsy in which the lesion or a sample is removed and examined under the microscope. The biopsy confirms the type and, for melanoma, measures the thickness (Breslow depth), which guides further treatment.

For melanoma or advanced non-melanoma cancers, the team may examine the lymph nodes, arrange a sentinel lymph node biopsy, and use imaging such as ultrasound, CT or PET to check for spread. A review of your full skin and any other suspicious areas is often part of the assessment.

Treatment Options

Surgical removal is the mainstay for most skin cancers. Options include simple excision with a margin of normal skin, Mohs micrographic surgery for tissue-sparing removal in delicate areas, and wider excision with lymph node assessment for melanoma. Reconstruction with stitches, skin flaps or grafts may follow larger removals.

Non-surgical options for selected superficial non-melanoma cancers include cryotherapy (freezing), curettage and cautery, topical creams, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy. Advanced melanoma and some other cancers may be treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy. The choice depends on the type, stage and location.

How It Is Performed

Most skin cancer surgery is done under local anaesthetic as a day procedure. The surgeon removes the cancer with a margin of healthy tissue and closes the wound directly or with a flap or graft; the removed tissue is examined to confirm the margins are clear. Mohs surgery removes tissue in stages, checking each layer under the microscope during the same visit.

For melanoma, a wider excision is performed, and a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be done at the same time to check whether cancer has begun to spread. Larger or more complex cases, or those needing extensive reconstruction, may require general anaesthesia and a short hospital stay.

Preparation

Preparation is usually straightforward for minor surgery: review your medicines (especially blood thinners) with your doctor, arrange transport if sedation is used, and follow any wound-care instructions given in advance. For larger operations or those under general anaesthesia, standard pre-operative tests and fasting apply.

If you are travelling for treatment, bring your biopsy results and any imaging so the team has your full history. Plan an in-country stay that allows for the procedure, wound checks and suture removal, and arrange follow-up skin surveillance with your doctor at home.

Benefits and Expected Goals

The goal of treatment is to remove or destroy the cancer completely, confirm clear margins, and preserve as much normal appearance and function as possible. For early non-melanoma cancers, this is often achieved with a single procedure and an excellent chance of cure. For early melanoma, prompt surgery offers the best opportunity for long-term control.

Benefits depend on the type, thickness and stage, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed, particularly for advanced disease. Your team can explain the realistic goal for your situation and the importance of ongoing skin checks and sun protection to reduce the risk of new cancers.

Risks and Possible Complications

Skin cancer procedures are generally safe, but as with any surgery there are risks that vary with the size and site.

• Scarring, and sometimes the need for reconstruction with a flap or graft
• Bleeding, infection or delayed wound healing
• Numbness or changes in sensation near the wound
• Incomplete removal requiring further surgery to clear the margins
• For melanoma, the possibility of spread and the need for further treatment; immunotherapy and targeted drugs carry their own side effects

Your team will explain the risks specific to your cancer and its location. Report increasing pain, redness, discharge or fever after surgery promptly.

Recovery, Follow-up & Aftercare

Recovery from minor skin surgery is usually quick, with wound care for one to two weeks and stitches removed on a schedule set by your surgeon. Larger excisions, grafts or flaps take longer to heal and may limit activity for a period. Protecting the wound from the sun helps it heal well.

Because skin cancer can recur or develop elsewhere, regular skin self-examination, professional skin checks and strict sun protection are lifelong priorities. For melanoma, follow-up may include examinations and, in higher-risk cases, imaging. Arrange this surveillance with your home doctor if you were treated abroad.

Medical Tourism Planning

Choose a JCI- or ISO-accredited hospital with dermatology, plastic surgery and oncology services, and pathology able to report margins and, for melanoma, sentinel node results. Confirm the surgeon's experience with your type of skin cancer and any reconstruction that may be needed.

Plan an in-country stay that covers surgery, wound checks and suture removal, and request a written treatment plan and cost estimate. Arrange follow-up skin surveillance at home, carry your pathology report with you, and consider medical travel insurance.

Estimated Cost Factors

Cost depends on the type and complexity of treatment — a simple excision differs greatly from Mohs surgery, wide melanoma excision with sentinel node biopsy, or reconstruction. Pathology, imaging for staging, anaesthesia, and any immunotherapy or targeted therapy for advanced disease all affect the total.

Many destinations offer skin cancer treatment at a fraction of typical US prices, but costs vary widely by case and cannot be judged from online figures. Always request a personalized written quote that details what is included before deciding.

Choosing a Hospital or Specialist

Look for a hospital with recognised accreditation and experienced dermatology, dermatologic or plastic surgery, and oncology teams, plus reliable pathology. For melanoma, confirm access to a multidisciplinary team and modern therapies. Ask about the surgeon's experience with your specific cancer and reconstruction where relevant.

Ask about international patient services, interpreter support, and how follow-up and any further treatment would be coordinated with your home doctors. Written treatment and cost plans are signs of a quality programme.

Alternatives

Depending on the type and stage, alternatives to standard excision include Mohs surgery, cryotherapy, curettage, topical treatments, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy for suitable non-melanoma cancers. Advanced melanoma may be treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy, sometimes in clinical trials.

For very low-risk lesions, careful monitoring may occasionally be appropriate. Each option has different benefits, cosmetic results and recovery. Discuss all of them with your specialist so the plan fits the cancer type, location and your preferences.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• What type of skin cancer do I have, and how advanced is it?
• Which treatment do you recommend, and why is it best for my case?
• Will I need lymph node assessment or imaging to check for spread?
• What scarring or reconstruction should I expect, and who would perform it?
• What are the risks, and what is the chance the cancer could return?
• How often should I have skin checks afterwards, and how do I protect my skin?
• If I travel, what follow-up will I need at home, and what records should I take?
• What is included in the written cost estimate?