Skin care is an important part of our overall health. Summer is a time when many of us are more in tune with our skin’s needs as we protect ourselves from the sun. However, our skin is a vital organ in our body, safeguarding and interacting with the rest of our organs, and deserves our attention all the time. When we develop skin problems, it is important to know where to turn for swift and effective care.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. About 20% of people will experience skin cancer of some type. If you or someone you love receives a skin cancer diagnosis, it can be overwhelming and frightening. You may have many questions about treatment options, care and the possibility of a cure. The good news about skin cancer is that it is sometimes preventable — and often completely curable if caught early.
While not all skin cancers require surgery, many do. One of the most precise and effective surgical treatments for skin cancer is available at Bassett Healthcare Network.
Mohs micrographic surgery is a highly precise skin cancer treatment that is used to remove cancer cells. The procedure removes only the minimal amount of tissue needed to clear skin cancer cells and provides the highest possibility of a cure, with as low as a 1% risk of recurrence in five years. During the procedure, the surgeon removes visible cancer with a thin margin of skin around it, and then evaluates each cell on the margin of the tissue with a microscope to confirm the cancer cells are gone.
Additional skin is only taken as needed, and the patient is repaired immediately after confirming the area is cancer free. It is the gold standard of care for skin cancer for cosmetically sensitive or high-risk locations, and for large or aggressive tumors. Patients who may qualify for Mohs surgery have skin cancer:
• In locations where preserving appearance is important, such as the head, neck, and face;
• In sensitive locations, like the hands, feet, or genitals;
• That has recurred after previous treatment or may be likely to recur;
• Arising in scar tissue;
• That has edges that are ill-defined, jagged, or blurry;
• That has grown rapidly;
• That is a high-risk type of cancer and is more likely to recur or spread with a regular excision (removal) or alternative therapies.
The entire surgical procedure is completed in a single outpatient appointment, and the patient does not need general anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the lesion, it could take as little as one hour or several hours if many stages and more advanced reconstruction is required. Patients can bring a guest, eat and drink normally that day. In most cases, they do not even have to change out of their clothes. They can usually return to normal activities with minimal restrictions in a day. For more advanced tumors, patients will work with a multidisciplinary team of radiation oncologists, an oncologist, plastic surgeons and an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) to tailor treatment to their individual needs.
Hope for the future
Mohs surgery has revolutionized our approaches to treating skin cancer. It requires training both as a dermatologist and with a formal fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery with an accredited program. There are few fellowship-trained, board-certified Mohs surgeons in the upstate New York region, and I am proud to bring this highly specialized procedure to Bassett Healthcare Network and our communities in Central New York where I was born and raised.
Bassett offers consultations for skin cancer surgery treatment throughout our network, including in Oneonta, Hartwick Seminary, Cobleskill, Herkimer and via telemedicine. During these consultations, our team can discuss Mohs surgery as well as alternative treatment options that may be best for the individual.
Call us at 607-547-6542 or visit Bassett.org/Mohs to ask about a surgical consultation or learn more.