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    • Home
    • What is skin cancer?
      • Overview of skin cancer
      • Basal Cell Carcinoma
      • Squamous Cell Carcinoma
      • Melanoma
      • Merkel Cell
      • Actinic Keratosis
      • Rare types of skin cancer
    • Mohs Surgery
      • What is Mohs Surgery?
      • Your Surgery Day
      • Wound Care Instructions
      • FAQ
    • Wide Excisions
      • What is a Wide Excision?
      • Melanoma Wide Excision
      • How to Prepare
      • Medications to Avoid
      • What To Expect
    • Be sun wise
      • What is sun damage?
      • UVA & UVB
      • Sun protection
      • Sunscreen 101
    • Our Team
      • Dr. Jennifer Guillemaud
      • Heather Harper, NP
      • Dr. Mike Sander
      • The Team
      • Charities We Love
    • Field Therapy
    • Products We Love
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • What is skin cancer?
    • Overview of skin cancer
    • Basal Cell Carcinoma
    • Squamous Cell Carcinoma
    • Melanoma
    • Merkel Cell
    • Actinic Keratosis
    • Rare types of skin cancer
  • Mohs Surgery
    • What is Mohs Surgery?
    • Your Surgery Day
    • Wound Care Instructions
    • FAQ
  • Wide Excisions
    • What is a Wide Excision?
    • Melanoma Wide Excision
    • How to Prepare
    • Medications to Avoid
    • What To Expect
  • Be sun wise
    • What is sun damage?
    • UVA & UVB
    • Sun protection
    • Sunscreen 101
  • Our Team
    • Dr. Jennifer Guillemaud
    • Heather Harper, NP
    • Dr. Mike Sander
    • The Team
    • Charities We Love
  • Field Therapy
  • Products We Love
  • Contact Us

Calgary Skin Cancer Centre

Calgary Skin Cancer CentreCalgary Skin Cancer CentreCalgary Skin Cancer Centre

What is a Wide Excision?

A wide excision is a common surgical procedure used to remove skin cancer. During this procedure, the cancerous lesion is removed along with a small margin of healthy surrounding tissue to help ensure that all cancer cells are eliminated. The area is typically excised in the shape of a football-like ellipse, which allows the skin to be neatly closed with sutures afterward.

Once the tissue is removed, it is sent to a pathologist for processing and careful examination of the margins to confirm that the cancer has been completely excised.


Wide excision is often used for:

  • Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas located on lower-risk areas of the body (such as the torso, arms, or legs) 
  • Early-stage melanomas that are still confined to the top layers of the skin
     

When caught early, a wide excision can be curative, particularly for melanoma. However, in some cases, additional treatments may be needed if the cancer is more advanced or if margins are not clear.


Because wide excision involves removing a margin of healthy skin, it typically results in a larger wound compared to other procedures. However, this approach offers a high success rate in clearing cancer and preventing recurrence when used appropriately.

Before and After Wide Excisions


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