For our patients who have been diagnosed with skin cancer, you are not alone. Boulevard Dermatology's in-house Mohs Surgeon has the experience and expertise that is necessary to produce optimal outcomes in skin cancer treatment through Mohs Micrographic Surgery. Mohs surgery has a 99% potential cure rate for skin cancer. By removing the least amount of tissue, it also offers superior cosmetic results to other methods.
What should I expect for the Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Typically, surgery starts early in the morning and is completed the same day, depending on the extent of the tumor and the amount of reconstruction necessary. Local anesthesia is used around the surgical area to ensure that the patient is comfortable and pain-free. Once the area is numb, the Mohs surgeon removes the visible tumor along with a thin layer of surrounding tissue.
Next, the surgeon examines the removed tissue under a microscope. If there is evidence of cancer, another layer of tissue is taken from the area where the cancer was detected. This ensures that only cancerous tissue is removed during the procedure, minimizing the loss of healthy tissue. These steps are repeated until all samples are free of cancer.
What Happens Next?
While treatment of your skin cancer is your primary concern, reconstruction of the treated area is also important. After your Mohs surgeon is confident that all of the cancer has been removed, your Mohs surgeon and you will determine how the wound will be repaired. In addition to removing skin cancer, fellowship trained Mohs surgeons have specialized reconstructive surgery training for repairing the wound.
Your surgeon will arrange post-surgical check-ups after Mohs surgery to monitor your recovery and spot any possible cancer recurrence as soon as possible. Since 2 out of 5 skin cancer patients develop another within 5 years, follow-up is extremely important for early detection of any new lesions.
For more information about Mohs Surgery, please visit the American College of Moh's Surgery.
If left untreated, skin cancer can be potentially life-threatening and disfiguring. Do not delay in getting treatment. If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer please schedule an appointment today.