Skin cancer is a prevalent disease in society today. This year alone, one million Americans will be treated for skin cancer; one in five people in the United States will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetimes. Removing cancerous cells from the skin has, in the past, been a source of concern for patients worried about the scarring that can sometimes arise from surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery has been a popular choice for patients pursuing skin cancer removal.
Candidates for Mohs surgery include individuals suffering from basil cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with melanoma have been discouraged in the past from pursuing Mohs surgery because of the concern that remaining cancerous cells may be missed so that the cancer can continue to spread. However, dyes have recently made it possible for melanoma to be removed through Mohs surgery.
Mohs micrographic surgery is the process in which one thin layer of skin is removed at a time and studied for remaining cancer cells. If cancerous cells still exist, another layer is removed, and so on until the skin is cancer-free. This type of surgery has yielded fantastic results: 98% of patients were cured. This is due to the method of examining remaining skin cells for cancer during the surgery rather than after it is complete. Patients also benefit from very minimal scarring and an optimal cosmetic appearance following the procedure.
Mohs surgery should be performed following a diagnosis of skin cancer. All skin cancer patients have different needs, so discuss all of your options at length with your doctor and make sure you both agree that Mohs surgery is the best treatment option for you.
Mohs micrographic surgery can be performed by a cosmetic surgeon and is great option for anyone suffering from basil cell or squamous cell carcinomas. Talk to your doctor about what treatment is best for your needs.
