Dr Sibanda explains that one of the biggest misconceptions is that once the cancer is removed, the journey is over. In reality, recovery is often both physical and psychological. Scarring, pigmentary changes, and textural differences can persist long after treatment.
She notes that this is especially important in patients with darker skin tones, where healing can lead to post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or keloid
scarring, which can sometimes be more visually distressing than the initial lesion itself.