Excision of skin cancers

What is this skin condition?

A total of 60,000 new carcinomas and 7,000 new cases of melanomas are diagnosed each year in Switzerland. Carcinomas are much more frequent (90% of cases) and are also the most curable skin cancers. Mostly appearing after the age of 50, carcinomas affect both men and women. They do not metastasize until very late in life, which is why most of these cases are completely cured once surgical excision has been performed and in healthy tissue. Melanoma is rarer and more dangerous because it can generalize rapidly. It even represents the first cause of mortality in women aged 25 to 29. However, if detected early, melanoma can be cured in 90% of cases.

What medical treatment can I consider?

As long as the cancer has not spread, surgery remains the treatment of choice. It is the only treatment that allows histological analysis to confirm total excision of the tumor. For tumors where surgery is not/no longer possible (size, location, other reason), there are still drug treatments: chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and/or radiotherapy can all be performed.

In all cases, your doctor will tell you which solution is best suited to your individual case.

Once the lesion has been removed by a surgeon, the patient must be followed up regularly to identify any recurrence (10% recurrence in the first 6 months) or the possible appearance of another lesion.

This follow-up will depend on the type of skin tumor excised and varies from once a year to every 3 months.

Indeed, a patient who has already had a skin carcinoma is at increased risk of developing another one.

The medical consultation is covered by basic insurance and takes place in our clinic based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Once the lesion has been removed, the patient must be followed up regularly to detect any recurrence (10% recurrence in the first 6 months) or the possible appearance of another lesion.

This follow-up will depend on the type of skin tumor excised and varies from once a year to every 3 months.

Indeed, a patient who has already had a cutaneous carcinoma, runs an increased risk of developing another one.