For non-melanoma skin cancers:

1-2 previous cancers = 40% within 3 years

3-10 previous skin cancers  = 94% risk next 3 years

11+ previous skin cancers = 100% change of further skin cancer in the next 3 years

For melanoma, a second melanoma is expected in 10-15% cases after the first Melanoma

The longer you rest the better the wound will heal and the less chance it has of tearing open.

A scar is only at 20% strength at 2 weeks, 30% strength at 4 weeks and 60% strength at 2 months.

A scar will reach about 80% strength at 3 months and has very little gain in strength after this time.

Standard deep sutures loose essentially all their tensile strength by 28 days and are completely absorbed by about 100 days.

Extra long duration suture still retain half their strength at 28 days and takes 6 months to be completely absorbed

The timing of returning to activity varies depending:

                What kind of activity you want to do

                How important is it have a less obvious scar (i.e. avoid an “ugly” scar)

How important it is for you go get back to your normal activities e.g. not getting paid if not at work

There is still benefit of avoiding normal activities 4 weeks post op however there are diminishing returns. Continuing to rest a wound at the 3 month mark may help with the wound healing but probably means other areas or your life are falling behind. Likewise, some people go back to work in the week following a procedure, this is not ideal but unavoidable in some situations. People who do this should know they have an increased risk of infection, wound tearing apart and an “ugly” scar.

If the wound has remained sore for 3 days post procedure OR pain restarts after day 3 of the procedure your wound may be infected.

Pain is often the first sign of infection – especially if the wound is under a dressing

Other signs include increasing redness spreading out from the wound, especially if the redness is asymmetrical or greater than 1 cm from the wound edge.

Can have pustules forming on the wound edge or around the sutures

Pus leaking from the wound is a late sign and you would very much prefer to catch the infection before this happens

Take any antibiotics you have been given and make an appointment/arrangement to be seen same day if possible. IF you are having trouble getting through the reception, ask for a message to be passed on to the doctor or if you have my mobile, feel free to text a photo of the wound with your concerns.  

There may be a small amount of bleeding from you excision on the first day. This is NORMAL. Please do not disturb the dressing

If the bleeding is excessive (completely soils the dressing) or is persistent, apply firm steady pressure over the wound site (gauze squares or tissue are perfect for this) for 10 minutes and then check the wound to make sure the bleeding has stopped. If the bleeding has stopped change the dressing, otherwise call the surgery or your afterhours service provider. Keep applying pressure.

Generally the answer to this question is NO. Any bleeding caused by a procedure done for skin cancers is more likely to be an inconvenience rather than life threatening. In special circumstances we may consider this but I rarely if ever want people to stop their blood thinners.