The two most prevalent types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas, are treated using Mohs surgery – a highly efficient treatment method developed in the 1930s by Fredric E. Mohs, MD. Dr. William Gillen, a Mohs surgeon in Glen Allen, VA, may recommend this surgery if you have skin cancer that reappears after treatment or appears on your eyelids, ears, or genitalia.
Like any surgery, Mohs Surgery has its benefits and risks, which are discussed in this article. Always consult with a professional to find out whether this treatment is an option for you.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Also known as Mohs micrographic surgery, Mohs surgery is a precise technique of treating skin cancer that removes cancerous skin layer by thin layer until cancer-free skin is left. This is done without much damage to the nearby tissues. It is done chiefly to outpatients, and the surgeon makes certain all cancer cells have been taken out, making the need for additional surgery very minimal.
The Skin Cancer Foundation ascertains that Mohs surgery has a cure rate of approximately 99 percent for previously untreated skin cancers and over 94 percent for recurrent skin cancers.
Benefits of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is highly acclaimed as a cancer treatment because of its wide range of benefits, which include:
· High Cure Rates
Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate among skin cancer treatment models. Compared to all other types of cancer treatment, Mohs has the highest cure rate of 98%, as statistics indicate.
· Minimal Margin of Error
Standard surgery usually has a surgeon who performs the actual surgery and a pathologist who takes the specimen to verify the presence of cancer cells. Here, chances of miscommunication are rampant. With Mohs, we only have one physician doing both tasks; therefore, accuracy is ensured.
· High Accuracy and Immediate Outcomes
Mohs procedures use horizontal sections to make sure all margin tissues are not left with any cancerous cells. Many other cancer treatments fail to remove all cancer cells in the surrounding tissue making it possible for cancer to develop again.
· Minimized Risk or Scarring
The precision of Mohs in detecting cancer is very high because it uses Mohs-mapping to ensure skin is removed where the cancer is and a little more from the surrounding tissue. This leaves minimal scarring, and no healthy skin is removed.
· Use of Local Anesthesia
The Mohs procedure only takes about 5 minutes. It is only the checking of the tissue that would take about two hours. It is done in the physician’s office, and the patient does not need to be put to sleep.
· Affordable Treatment
With other skin cancer treatments where not all cancerous cells are removed, the chances of many more trips for surgery are pretty high. With Mohs surgery, the precision in the removal of cancer cells ensures no recurrence.
· Quick Recovery Time
Depending on the extent of the surgery, the recovery period is between 2-3 weeks. This is because not much healthy tissue is removed during surgery.
Conclusion
Mohs surgery works by removing the skin cancer completely and leaving healthy skin intact. With a cure rate of 94 to 99 percent, it is not only effective but safe too. If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, contact Dr. William Gillen of the Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center to schedule a consultation and discuss the possibility of Mohs Surgery as a treatment.
