Q. Why is a Biopsy not the same as a Removal?
A. When we find a spot that is suspicious for skin cancer, we must sample the lesion for evaluation by a pathologist. Biopsies are a technique which allows us to learn more about the spot, whether it is cancerous or non-cancerous. Ultimately, we are checking if the spot needs treatment to prevent harm to the patient. When lesions are found to be cancerous, the biopsy will tell us which type of cancer including specific subtypes and this information will guide our treatment and reveal the options we have available.