Tests and Investigations which might take place

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In order to diagnose if you have skin cancer, surgery is performed to take a biopsy (sample) to be tested in a laboratory.听

A small biopsy of the lesion may be removed (incisional biopsy) or removal of the whole lesion (excisional biopsy). Sometimes this initial treatment is enough to cure the skin cancer.听

There are slightly different tests, depending on the suspected type of skin cancer:听

Melanoma

Melanoma

If you have been given a diagnosis of melanoma you will most likely need further surgery. This would be wide local excision (WLE) and possibly a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)

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Wide Local Excision (WLE)

Typically this is a small surgical procedure under local anaesthetic. An injection of local anaesthetic is given to numb the area and then a small area of skin around the scar is removed and checked for any remaining cancer cells to ensure an adequate margin, this aims to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

For more information, Macmillan Cancer Support have produced the following leaflet: .

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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB)

This is an investigation to check if cancer cells have spread to the nearest lymph node. If your doctor thinks that you need a sentinel lymph node biopsy, you would have this at the same time as your wide local excision. This is performed under general anaesthetic, most commonly as a day case.

For more information, Macmillan Cancer Support have produced the following leaflet:

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

If you are given a diagnosis of Squamous Cell skin cancer (SCC) or Basal Cell skin cancer (BCC) it is likely you will not need any further treatment. Occasionally some SCC or BCC skin cancers require more surgery or treatment. This will be explained to you by your doctor.听听

For more information, Macmillan Cancer Support have produced the following leaflet: 听

Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC)

If you are given a diagnosis of Merkel Cell skin cancer this follows a similar pathway to melanoma (explained above).听听

For more information, NET Patient Foundation have produced the following leaflet: 听听

Further investigations (eg scans and ultrasounds)

Further investigations such as CT, MRI and ultrasound scans may be arranged if this is part of your treatment plan.听

Scans can be used to investigate whether the cancer has spread to another part of your body and can provide additional information to help make an accurate diagnosis.听

An ultrasound may be conducted if a lump is found during clinical examination.听

Sometimes an ultrasound guided biopsy or ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) will be offered. This involves taking a small sample of tissue from the area of interest using the ultrasound pictures to guide a needle. This is then sent for laboratory analysis.听

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