Cancerbackup: Surgery

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Treating Kaposi's sarcoma with surgery

Surgery may be used to remove Kaposi's sarcoma from the skin, particularly when the lesions are small. This is a simple procedure and may be done in the outpatient clinic or day ward. The doctor injects local anaesthetic into the skin around the lesions to numb the area. The lesions are removed and the wound stitched. This will leave a small scar which gradually fades.

Some KS lesions can be removed using cryotherapy, which freezes the area to destroy the cancer cells. Sometimes, a laser may be used to burn away the lesion. Your doctor or specialist nurse can give you more information about these treatments, and whether they are appropriate for you.



Content last reviewed: 01 June 2006
Page last modified: 14 January 2009

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