Skin cancer affects more Americans than all other cancers. The good news is that most skin cancers have a high cure rate when detected and treated early.
Mohs surgery is one of the most effective treatments with the best outcomes for skin cancer. Keep reading to learn more about Mohs surgery and why it is the gold standard for skin cancer treatment.
What is Mohs Surgery?
Dr. Jane Kardashian, a board-certified dermatologist at Golden State Dermatology, emphasizes, “Mohs surgery represents a significant advancement in skin cancer treatment. Its precision and effectiveness make it an invaluable tool in our fight against the most common forms of skin cancer.”
Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, is a procedure used to treat different forms of skin cancer. These include squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), two of the most common skin cancers. While typically not indicated for smaller skin cancers on the extremities and trunk, Mohs surgery is ideal for those on the face, neck, hands, feet, shins as well as for larger skin cancers and those with certain features under the microscope.
Mohs surgery involves surgically removing the tumor layer by layer and assessing the tissue under a microscope to confirm the tumor has been completely removed. The highly specialized procedure allows surgeons to remove all the skin cancer that is present while preserving as much healthy tissue in the skin as possible.
Why is Mohs Surgery Considered the Gold Standard for Skin Cancer Treatment?
Mohs surgery is the gold standard treatment for skin cancer, and for good reason. Here’s why:
Highest Success Rate
Mohs surgery has a 97 to 99 percent cure rate for non-melanoma skin cancers, such as squamous and basal cell carcinoma. The procedure is highly effective because it allows your surgeon to remove cancerous skin tissue with greater precision than is possible with traditional skin cancer surgeries.
During the procedure, your surgeon progressively removes thin layers of cancerous tissue and carefully assesses each layer under a microscope until only cancer-free skin tissue remains.
Highest Cure Rate
While some cancers are shallow, others are like icebergs. They appear small on the surface but extend downward, forming roots several skin layers below.
If your surgeon doesn’t remove all these roots, the tumor will likely recur, requiring more extensive surgery. The roots are only visible under a microscope.
After your surgeon removes every layer of tissue, it’s checked under a microscope to identify the microscopic roots of the cancer and determine where the cancer stops. This isn’t possible with other skin cancer treatments.
The assessment enables your surgeon to continue removing more tissue exactly where the cancer is still present until the tissue is cancer-free. As a result, Mohs surgery has the highest chance of completely removing your cancer.
Cure rates are over 99 percent for new cancers and 95 percent for recurrent cancers.
Less Painful
In addition to being highly precise, Mohs surgery is often more comfortable compared to other skin cancer removal procedures. During Mohs surgery, your surgeon will inject a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area, ensuring you won’t feel any pain.
Your surgeon will also create the smallest possible incision, minimizing pain and potential scarring. Most patients experience little to no discomfort during and after the skin cancer removal procedure.
You may experience minor discomfort and pain post-procedure, which is easily manageable with over-the-counter medication.
It’s Fast
Mohs surgery is usually performed as an in-office procedure. Because it’s an in-office outpatient procedure, you’ll go home after it’s over.
Although patients need to wait for their lab results after their surgeon removes each layer, the procedure usually takes 4 hours or less for most patients. However, it may take longer for some patients, depending on the size and depth of the tumor being removed.
Safer
Mohs surgery often involves numbing the surgical area with local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. General anesthesia carries more risks than local anesthesia.
Due to this, Mohs surgery is a safer option for patients, particularly those who can’t safely have general anesthesia and those on blood thinners.
Shorter Downtime
Mohs surgery has a shorter recovery time compared to traditional skin cancer surgeries. The procedure typically results in smaller wounds than other skin cancer treatments.
More minor wounds tend to heal quicker with fewer complications. Patients usually have less swelling, and most resume routine activities within a few days.
Moreover, Mohs surgery and reconstruction can be completed on the same day, promoting optimal, quick healing.
Minimal Scarring
During Mohs surgery, surgeons meticulously remove the skin with cancer cells layer by layer. Each layer is then examined under a microscope until there’s only cancer-free tissue, so less healthy tissue is sacrificed.
Additionally, the incisions are smaller than other invasive methods. Selectively removing cancerous tissue and the smaller incisions leads to minimal scarring and excellent cosmetic results.
This is especially important if patients are having cancer removed on the face, neck, and other exposed areas where aesthetic results can affect a patient’s confidence and quality of life.
Outpatient Procedure
Because Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure, staying in the hospital is unnecessary. You can go home the same day of your procedure after receiving treatment and reviewing the results with your Duncan Dermatology surgeon.
Cost-Effective
Mohs surgery is one of the most affordable types of skin cancer surgery. Patients are less likely to spend more on additional treatments because of their high cure and low recurrence rates.
Other factors that make Mohs surgery more cost-effective include:
- Lab work is done on-site
- Surgeons use local anesthesia
- The procedure is outpatient, meaning patients don’t need to pay for hospital stays
Advanced Skin Cancer Treatment with Mohs Surgery
The sooner skin cancer is diagnosed, the sooner you can treat it. Dr. Tuantu “Tu” Doan Vu at Golden State Dermatology says, “Regular skin checks and early intervention are crucial. We can offer patients the best possible outcomes and peace of mind with advanced treatments like Mohs surgery.”
Are you concerned about a spot or a mole being cancerous? Book an appointment at Duncan Dermatology and get the peace of mind you need.
