|
Surgery
The side effects of surgery depend mainly
on the size and location of the tumor and the extent of the operation. Although patients may have some pain during
the first few days after surgery, this pain can be controlled with
medicine. People should feel free to
discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse.
It is also common for patients to feel tired or weak for a while. The length of time it takes to recover from
an operation varies for each patient.
Scarring may also be a concern for some
patients. To avoid causing large scars,
doctors remove as little tissue as they can (while still protecting against
recurrence). In general, the scar from
surgery to remove an early stage melanoma is a small line (often 1 to 2 inches
long), and it fades with time. How
noticeable the scar is depends on where the melanoma was, how well the person
heals, and whether the person develops raised scars called
keloids.
When a tumor is large and thick, the doctor must remove more surrounding
skin and other tissue (including muscle).
Although skin grafts reduce scarring caused by the removal of large
growths, these scars will still be quite noticeable.
Surgery to remove the lymph nodes from the underarm or groin may damage
the lymphatic system and slow the flow of
lymphatic fluid in the
arm or leg. Lymphatic fluid may build up in a limb and cause swelling
(lymphedema). The doctor
or nurse can suggest exercises or other ways to reduce swelling if it
becomes a problem. Also, it is harder for the body to fight
infection in a limb after nearby lymph nodes have been removed, so the patient
will need to protect the arm or leg from cuts, scratches, bruises, insect
bites, or burns that may lead to infection.
If an infection does develop, the patient should see the doctor right
away. |
