Florida's high sun exposure makes melanoma a common reason to see a surgical oncologist, especially for deeper or higher-risk lesions.
While many early skin cancers are handled by dermatologists, melanoma that is deeper or higher-risk often needs a surgical oncologist for wide local excision and, when indicated, sentinel lymph node biopsy to check for spread. Sarasota's high rate of sun exposure makes melanoma a frequent diagnosis. Surgical oncologists coordinate with dermatology, pathology and, for advanced disease, medical oncology for immunotherapy or targeted therapy. The goal is complete removal with adequate margins while preserving function and appearance.
Removes the melanoma plus a margin of healthy skin based on tumor depth.
Checks the first draining lymph node for spread in intermediate/high-risk melanoma.
Removes additional lymph nodes when cancer has spread to them.
A Florida medical license lets a physician practice, but board certification is the signal that a doctor completed accredited residency training and passed rigorous exams in their specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board that matches the care you need — and verify it yourself.
Procedure facts on this page draw on authoritative medical sources. Confirm specifics in a consultation.
Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) ↗American Cancer Society ↗Choose a board-certified surgeon — and verify it yourself:
ABMS — Certification Matters ↗ Look up any U.S. physician’s board certification across all 24 ABMS member specialty boards. Florida DOH — License Verification ↗ Confirm an active Florida license and review any disciplinary history. NPI Registry (CMS) ↗ Verify a provider’s national identifier and registered specialty taxonomy. Medicare Care Compare ↗ Compare clinicians, hospitals and facilities on quality measures.