There are a variety of ways in which a biopsy can be done. A shave excision involves shaving the bump/mole off and sending this for review at the lab (pathology). The base/roots of the bump remain behind but this allows you to obtain a diagnosis with as minimal a cosmetic impact as possible. It's usually done in areas that are very cosmetically sensitive (i.e. nose). In some circumstances, the shave can go deep enough to eliminate the skin cancer completely but there is no way to know definitively as there are usually no "margins" to evaluate. "Margins" are the areas of normal skin around the tumor that a pathologist would see when a formal excision is done - you would want to see a small cuff of normal skin around a tumor to know that the whole thing has been removed. Never the less, its quite normal for this too ooze for 4-6 weeks until it heals completely - just like if you scraped your knee and had to have it heal in.A punch biopsy involves a circular blade that is used to take a small circular biopsy of the mole/bump. This can then be closed with a suture afterwards but can sometimes be left to heal on its own. This type of biopsy rarely removes the entire mole unless the punch is quite large or the bump is very small. In those circumstances margins can be evaluated to ensure that the bump has been completely removed. In either case, wound healing will be quite quick if a suture is placed (i.e. 1-2 weeks). If no suture is placed, healing can take several weeks (i.e. 4-6) for things to heal.Finally, when an excisional biopsy is done, the bump and a cuff of normal skin is removed (i.e. margins). This is usually done in a diamond/fusiform shape to help bring the skin edges together. Sutures are usually placed to help things heal. The healing time for this is 1-2 weeks depending on the area where the bump was excised. It is normal for these wounds to weep some blood tinged clear liquid for the first few days after the procedure.Biopsies do not "cause" a skin cancer to spread. A common scenario is that only a portion of the skin cancer has been biopsied with some of the residual cancer left behind (not biopsied). If this occurs, then a formal excisional procedure should be done. In some circumstances, the margins can be "close" - meaning that the the cuff of normal skin surrounding the removed or biopsied skin cancer was only a millimeter or so away. In some circumstances it is acceptable to watch the area to see if something comes back as opposed to re-excising/removing the area again. I would strongly encourage you to meet with your doctor to have the area reviewed and discuss options going forward. Removal for definitive cure of the cancer would help with your peace of mind but is a discussion best had with your physician.Hope that helps.Mike