Skin cancer is a dangerous disease that affects millions of people each year, but it can be treated successfully if caught early.Mohs Surgery is considered the most effective way to treat skin cancer because of its high cure rate. But what exactly is Mohs Surgery?
What Exactly Is Mohs Surgery
Mohs or Mohs Micrographic surgery is a surgical procedure that is used to treat squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which are the most common types of skin cancer.
Mohs surgery is performed by specially trained doctors, and requires specific lab conditions since the lab work is done on-site. It is considered the treatment of choice for skin cancer because it completely removes the visiblecancerous growth above the surface, as well as the roots beneath the skin.
Mohs surgery is also advantageous because it spares as much healthy tissue as possible. This makes it an excellent option for treating delicate areas like the face and neck.
Depending on the extent of the cancer, Mohs surgery can take several hours to perform. Surgeryis done under local anesthesia so patients are awake throughout.
How Is Mohs SurgeryPerformed
Mohs surgery is a precise technique that removesskin cancer by layers. A thin layer of tissue is excised and then immediately examined under a microscope at the on-site lab. Patients wait while the lab work is being done. If cancer cells are detected the excision of tissue is repeated until the area is cancer-free. The wound may be left open after surgery or reconstructed with a skin flap.
Would you like to learn more about Mohs surgery? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.
If you are in the Newport Beach, CA area, Zena Medical is our featured practice.
You can reach them at www.zenamedical.com or by calling 949-200-8222.