A member asked:

Does it take more than one shot for skin cancer surgery?

16 doctors weighed in across 7 answers
Dr. Matthew Lublin answered

Specializes in Surgery

Depends: When removing skin for skin cancer, the skin that is removed needs to be checked ny a pathologist under the microscope to make sure all the cancer is removed. If skin cancer remains, a second surgery is necessary to remove the residual cancer. A second surgery is required about 5% of the time.

Answered 7/25/2012

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Dr. Mike Bowman answered

Specializes in ENT and Head and Neck Surgery

Don't let it stop u: It may indeed take multiple shots of numbing medicine to remove a skin cancer, but it certainly is worthwhile. Discuss with your surgeon...It may be feasible to perform the skin cancer removal under anesthesia or with some adjunctive medications to help with anxiety. If you have a skin cancer, don't let a needle phobia keep you from getting appropriate treatment, it could save your life!

Answered 1/5/2019

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Dr. Timothy Mountcastle answered

Specializes in Plastic Surgery

Sometimes: Depends on cancer and technique. If u do mohs surgery for basal cell then the answer is one and done. If it is for melanoma or you don't do mohs then it may be more.

Answered 8/29/2012

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It can: Skin cancers can spread superficially or deep. All the cells or roots need to be removed in order to prevent further spread. Mohs is the only procedure that can ensure that all the skin cancer is removed with one procedure. All other procedures might require multiple attempts.

Answered 12/8/2016

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Dr. Arthur Balin answered

Specializes in Dermatology

Skin cancer: There are different techniques to remove skin cancer. The technique that has the highest cure rate and that spares the most normal tissue is called mohs micrographic surgery. This method allows the cancer to be traced out under the microscope by examining the entire periphery of the excised tumor. If any roots are seen the excision and microscopic checking continues until tumor free plane obtained.

Answered 12/31/2012

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Depends: The size of the lesion dictates how many shots of local anesthesia are needed.

Answered 1/14/2013

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Depends: If there is a small area being treated, it can be injected though one site usually. Larger excisions need multiple injections to numb fully. However, as the initial injection works, the other injection sites may not be felt.

Answered 5/25/2013

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