Skin Cancer | The Office of Dr. Vincent Hung
Receiving a skin cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and stressful. You may wonder how serious it is, whether you need Mohs surgery or other treatment options, what the scar may look like, and how quickly treatment should happen.
A diagnosis does not mean you have to figure everything out alone. The next step is to understand your pathology results, review your treatment options, and choose a surgeon who can plan both cancer removal and reconstruction when needed. This blog will serve as a step-by-step guide to what to expect after your skin cancer diagnosis.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Understand What Being Diagnosed With Skin Cancer Means
- Step 2: Schedule a Skin Cancer Treatment Consultation
- Step 3: Review Your Treatment Options
- Step 4: Determine Whether Mohs Surgery Is Recommended
- Step 5: Plan for Reconstruction When Needed
- Step 6: Prepare for Your Procedure
- Step 7: Follow-Up Visits and Post-Operative Wound Care Instructions
- Step 8: Continue Skin Checks After Treatment
- Why Choose Dr. Vincent Hung After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis?
- FAQ About What Happens After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Step 1: Understand What Being Diagnosed With Skin Cancer Means
Your skin cancer diagnosis usually starts with a biopsy. During a biopsy, part or all of a suspicious skin lesion is removed and sent to a lab for microscopic review. If Dr. Hung suspects basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, the suspicious area is removed and examined under a microscope.
Your pathology report may identify the type of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, advanced melanoma, or another less common, non-melanoma skin cancer. It may also include details about depth, growth pattern, margins, or other features that help guide treatment.
Not every skin cancer requires the same approach. A small, low-risk cancer on the body may need a different plan than a recurrent or aggressive cancer on the nose, eyelid, lip, or ear.
Step 2: Schedule a Skin Cancer Treatment Consultation
After diagnosis, your consultation helps turn the pathology report into a treatment plan. Dr. Hung evaluates your case, discusses his findings, and recommends treatment tailored to your individual needs.
During this visit, Dr. Hung will review:
- The type of skin cancer
- The size and location of the lesion
- Whether the cancer appears aggressive or recurrent
- Whether Mohs surgery, excision, or another approach may be appropriate
- Whether reconstruction may be needed after removal
- Your medical history, medications, and healing considerations
This is also the right time to ask about scarring, post-operative care, follow-up visits, and what to expect on the day of surgery.
Step 3: Review Your Treatment Options
Your skin cancer treatment plan may likely involve removing the cancerous tissue, cancerous mass, or smaller lesions under local anesthesia. This will be performed through standard excision, Mohs surgery, or another treatment, depending on the diagnosis.
Skin cancer surgeries are especially critical for many basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. Standard excisions remove skin cancer along with a wide margin of surrounding tissue, while Mohs surgery removes the cancer in stages, where the tissue is examined during the procedure.
Step 4: Determine Whether Mohs Surgery Is Recommended
Mohs surgery is a specialized tissue-conserving surgical method that progressively removes affected tissue until only cancer-free tissue remains. This can help preserve healthy skin tissue when possible and help ensure complete cancer cell removal. Meanwhile, standard excision removes visible skin cancer along a set perimeter of surrounding skin. This tissue is then sent to a lab for testing to detect any remaining cancerous cells.
Mohs surgery may be recommended when precision and tissue preservation matter. This often includes cancers on the:
- Face
- Scalp
- Ears
- Neck
- Hands
- Feet
- Genitals
It’s also effective for most high-risk skin cancers that are large or aggressive, have unclear borders, or are located in areas where healthy tissue preservation affects aesthetic results or function.
Standard excision may be better for patients whose cancer is lower risk, clearly defined, located in areas with more available tissue, and not recurrent or aggressive. However, if the cancer has spread beyond the excised tissue, additional tests, more surgery, or radiation therapy may be needed.
Step 5: Plan for Reconstruction When Needed
After skin cancer removal, many patients need reconstruction to close the wound, restore contour, and protect function. This is especially important when skin cancer appears on visible or delicate areas of the body.
Your reconstructive options will be discussed during your consultation. Options may include direct closure, local flaps, skin grafts, or allowing very small superficial wounds to heal on their own. Dr. Hung offers reconstruction immediately after Mohs surgery to protect both your functional and aesthetic results and restore confidence in your appearance.
Step 6: Prepare for Your Procedure
Once your treatment plan is confirmed, your care team will give you instructions for surgery day. Preparation may include reviewing your medications, arranging transportation if needed, and planning for post-operative downtime.
Mohs surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Because Mohs surgery is performed in stages, your appointment time may vary. While most Mohs procedures take less than four hours, most patients may need to plan the day accordingly. If you’re undergoing a different skin cancer treatment approach, such as standard excision, results and analysis of the tissue may take longer than one day.
Step 7: Follow-Up Visits and Post-Operative Wound Care Instructions
After treatment, your recovery plan depends on the size, depth, and location of the cancer, as well as the type of repair used. You should expect swelling and bruising that will subside over the next several weeks. It’s important to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for up to three weeks, or until cleared by Dr. Hung, to support optimal healing. Follow-up appointments are scheduled during this time to make sure wounds heal properly.
Your at-home post-operative instructions may include how to care for your dressing, when to clean the area, which medications to avoid, and when to return for follow-up. Proper wound care can help support healing, comfort, and scar maturation.
You should contact the office if you notice increasing pain, spreading redness, pus-like drainage, fever, persistent bleeding, or any other symptoms that concern you.
Step 8: Continue Skin Checks After Treatment
Skin cancer treatment does not end the moment the cancer is removed. Follow-up care and proper skin cancer prevention habits help monitor healing. Check for recurrence and identify new suspicious lesions early.
Patients who have had basal cell carcinoma have a higher risk of developing another skin cancer, including melanoma. Regular skin exams and physical examinations help you stay proactive after treatment.
You should also protect your skin from unnecessary sun exposure, watch for new or changing lesions, and schedule an evaluation if you notice a sore that does not heal, a spot that bleeds, or a lesion that changes in size, shape, or color. Good skin health and early detection practices will provide you with greater long-term relief.
Why Choose Dr. Vincent Hung After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis?
When you receive a skin cancer diagnosis, choosing the right provider can shape your treatment experience, your reconstruction plan, and your confidence during recovery. For those in Pasadena or surrounding Los Angeles communities, Dr. Hung is the top choice for skin cancer treatment and reconstruction.
Dr. Vincent Hung is triple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Dermatology, and Plastic Surgery, and fellowship-trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, making him one of the few doctors in the world with these credentials.
This combination of training and experience allows him to approach skin cancer treatment with detailed attention to diagnosis, cancer removal, tissue preservation, reconstruction, and patient care.
Under the care of Dr. Hung and his team of skin cancer experts, you can expect compassionate care, treatment planning, and supportive services that will help you address your skin cancer completely, reconstruct the area, and ensure you are provided with comfort and emotional support.
FAQ About What Happens After a Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Do I need treatment immediately after a skin cancer diagnosis?
You should schedule a consultation promptly after diagnosis. Dr. Hung can then explain the appropriate timeline for your case.
Will I need Mohs surgery?
You may need Mohs surgery if your skin cancer is recurrent, aggressive, poorly defined, located in a cosmetically sensitive area, or in a place where preserving healthy tissue matters.
What happens if my skin cancer is small?
Some smaller lesions can be removed in-office using local anesthesia, though the right treatment depends on the diagnosis and lesion characteristics.
Will I need reconstruction after skin cancer removal?
You may need reconstruction depending on the size, depth, and location of the treated area. Dr. Hung offers direct closure, local flaps, skin grafts, and natural healing as possible options for very small superficial wounds.
Can skin cancer come back after treatment?
Yes, skin cancer can recur, and there is a risk of developing a new skin cancer in the future. Cancer patients who have had basal cell carcinoma have a higher risk of another skin cancer. Your risk factors will be discussed during your initial consultation.
What should I do after receiving biopsy results?
Schedule a consultation with a qualified skin cancer surgeon who can review your pathology, examine the treatment area, and recommend a personalized plan. If you are in Pasadena or Newport, Dr. Hung can evaluate your diagnosis and discuss whether Mohs surgery, excision, reconstruction, or another treatment approach is appropriate.
Schedule a Skin Cancer Treatment Consultation in Pasadena, CA
A skin cancer diagnosis can feel scary, but a clear treatment roadmap can help you move forward with confidence. From pathology review and treatment planning to Mohs surgery, reconstruction, and post-operative care, each step should focus on removing the cancer while protecting healthy tissue, function, and appearance whenever possible.
To schedule a personalized consultation with Dr. Hung in Pasadena, CA, contact our office by calling (626) 432-5032 or filling out our online contact form.
