Do you know to never have a shave biopsy with melanoma? - Cancer: Skin Message Board

cindyx4 · 04-26-2005, 02:26 PM

Once you have melanoma you should never allow a doctor to do a shave biopsy because the shave can obscure or destroy the thickness information. It can mess up the staging with melanoma. You should always request a punch biopsy. Most doctors will automatically do a shave unless you speak up. It's your body.

You all may already know this but thought I'd share.

Cindy

smithn · 04-26-2005, 09:03 PM

This is really good advice, Cindy. Some doctors aren't experienced with moles and really don't know one type from the other and you're right, it would do more harm than good to have it shaved rather than biopsied or excised.

Mom22greatkids · 04-27-2005, 08:01 AM

What exactly is punch biopsy? My doctor wants to remove two moles. One on my stomach which he wants to remove entirely and one on my arm he wants to do a shave biopsy.

cindyx4 · 04-27-2005, 08:11 AM

Skin Biopsy
(Skin lesion biopsy, Shave biopsy, Punch biopsy, Excision biopsy)
Definition
Removal of a small portion of abnormal skin to be tested in a laboratory. There are three main types of skin biopsies:

Shave biopsy - the outer part of the suspect area is removed
Punch biopsy - a small cylinder of skin is removed using a punch tool
Excision biopsy - the entire area of abnormal growth is removed

Hope this helps.

Cindy

Mom22greatkids · 04-27-2005, 12:26 PM

Thanks. Why do they do shave biopsies if they don't give accurate results? Is there any circumstances where a shave biopsy should be done?