Surgery remains the mainstay of skin cancer treatment. Some of the changes that occur in the skin before a cancer develops can be treated with creams or other non-invasive methods, but some form of surgery is essential whenever there is any suspicion that a cancer has developed. Surgery allows the removed tissue to be properly examined in a laboratory, giving a precise diagnosis and confirming whether the entire cancer has been removed — something no other method can achieve.

Lesions identified before a cancer has formed can often be treated successfully with topical creams such as Efudix and Aldara. Efudix works by directly targeting pre-cancerous cells, while Aldara stimulates the body's immune system to recognise and respond to them more effectively. Neither cream will effectively treat a cancer that has developed below the epidermis.

Depending on the lesion, surgery may involve a simple shave of the skin — suitable for very superficial, low-grade cancers — or a full excision with sutures. At our clinic, all excision repairs are performed using dissolving sutures, buried beneath the skin's surface, which hold the skin together effectively for longer than sutures that need to be removed. This technique typically produces a far more cosmetically acceptable scar.

In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a Plastic Surgeon or another specialist if there are particular concerns about your case.

49 Margaret Street, East Toowoomba QLD 4350 | Phone: 07 4646 4945