Eyelid Skin Cancer

About Eyelid Skin Cancer:

Eyelid skin cancer is most common on the lower eyelid, but can also form on the upper eyelid, corners of the eye, eyebrow skin, etc.

Risk Factors:

  • Old age
  • Fair skin
  • Too much exposure to sunlight

Wearing sunscreen lotion can reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Key Points to Remember:

  • The earlier the cancer is treated, the better the outcome
  • Your new eyelid will look like the old one
  • Regular follow-ups are very important

The symptoms are:

  • Painless or painful bumps on the skin
  • Missing eyelashes
  • Skin ulcers and moles
  • Bleeding or crusty skin
 
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. All eyelid cancers may spread very slowly to other body parts. If it is detected early enough, it is easily cured by removing the tumor. But if treatment is delayed, the cancer can spread.

Treatment Options

Skin cancer treatment takes two steps: Excision and Reconstruction.

  1. Excision is when the doctor cuts out the tumors. In eyelid skin cancer, the whole eyelid is removed. The tumors are sent for a biopsy, which allows the doctors to confirm if it’s cancer. The biopsy also identifies the type of cancer. This lets your doctor choose the best treatment for you.
  2. Reconstruction is when the doctor recreates the tissue that was removed. For eyelid skin cancer, your doctor will make a new eyelid from your skin. This new eyelid will work just like the old eyelid. It will protect the eye, preserve vision, and restore the natural look of your face.

Post-Operation:

After surgery, you may expect:

  • A small scar
  • Regular follow-up visits to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned
  • Other cancer treatments (if the cancer has spread beyond your eyelid)