After Treatment

After treatment for eyelid cancer ends, talk with your doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. This plan may include regular physical examinations and/or medical tests to monitor your recovery for the coming months and years. Most patients treated for eyelid cancer are successfully treated with a good cosmetic result.

Most people do not have any long-term effects because of the cancer. However, people treated for eyelid cancer need close observation by their ophthalmologist and oncologist to ensure that the tumor does not recur or spread to other organ systems. The doctor will make recommendations regarding the frequency of necessary follow-up examinations. In some circumstances, your doctor may also recommend routine blood and imaging testing to ensure that there is no recurrence or spread of the tumor.

Some side effects may occur months or years after treatment and therefore continued follow-up care by your doctor is essential.

Many patients with eyelid cancer require reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery differs from cosmetic surgery, in that it is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance; cosmetic surgery is performed on normal structures for the purpose of appearance. A surgeon may use skin grafts in order to completely reconstruct the eyelid and give patients a normal appearance.

To learn about the terms used in this section, read the Cancer.Net Feature: Cancer Terms to Know: After Treatment.