Treatment for skin cancer has evolved incredibly over the past few decades. In the past, if you had skin cancer you had only three treatment options: radiation, curettage, and surgical excision. Today, there are a plethora of skin cancer treatment choices, ranging from cryosurgery to topical medications. However, there is one treatment that stands out and that’s Mohs micrographic surgery.
What makes Mohs micrographic surgery so effective in treating skin cancer?
Mohs micrographic surgery is the most precise and tissue-sparing form of treatment that dermatologists can offer when it comes to squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas, the most frequently occurring cancers. The objective of Mohs surgery is the total removal of the tumor while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tissue. The cure rate for primary lesions is an amazing 98-99 percent and 96 percent for skin cancer recurrences that cannot be treated using other methods.
How is Mohs surgery in Orange County different from other techniques?
Mohs micrographic surgery differs from other treatment methods because examination of excised tissues makes it far easier for the Mohs skin cancer surgeon to remove cancer cells because he does not have to estimate the depth of the skin cancer. He is then able to remove all cancerous cells and spare as much healthy tissue as possible. This means the cure rate is extremely high and, since small wounds heal faster than large ones, the healing process is much smoother and faster.