What is MOHS?

Used to treat skin cancer, this surgery has a unique benefit. During surgery, the surgeon can see where the cancer stops. This isn’t possible with other types of treatment for skin cancer.

The ability to see where the cancer stops gives Mohs (pronounced Moes) two important advantages:

  1. Mohs has a high cure rate.

  2. Mohs allows you to keep as much healthy skin as possible because the surgeon only removes the skin with cancer cells. This is especially important when skin cancer develops in an area with little tissue beneath (e.g., eyelid, ear, or hand).

History Fact

Mohs surgery, developed in 1938 by a general surgeon, Frederic E. Mohs, is microscopically controlled surgery used to treat common types of skin cancer. During the surgery, after each removal of tissue and while the patient waits, the tissue is examined for cancer cells.

What to expect on Surgery Day

The best preparation for Mohs Surgery is a good night’s sleep. The morning of your surgery, follow your normal routine. Bathe or shower, eat breakfast and take any prescription medications. If you need to take any additional medications during the day, please bring them with you.

Since you may be at our surgical facility for a large portion of the day, remember to bring a book, your laptop computer, or other reading materials with you. Also pack a light lunch, or bring a handful of snacks.

Our goal is to remove the cancer in the first layer or stage; however, more often than not, our surgeon may need to remove sequential layers of tissue. In doing so, we try not to remove any more normal skin than necessary. At the end of your Mohs Surgery, you will be left with a surgical wound. Once we are sure that you are free of skin cancer, we will discuss our recommendations for repairing the surgical wound with you.

With any surgical procedure, there is a chance of complications. Although every effort will be made to offer the best possible cosmetic result, you will be left with a scar. Proper wound care at home will help the healing process and minimize scarring. If necessary, reconstructive surgery following removal of your skin cancer can result in a more pleasing cosmetic outcome.

The two most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell cancer. Basal cell cancer is a slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell cancer also rarely spreads, but it does so more often then basal cell cancer. It is important that skin cancer be found and treated early because they can invade and destroy healthy tissue nearby.

How does Radiation work?

Radiation is a very important tool in the fight against cancer. When radiation interacts with a cancerous cell, it alters the cell’s DNA (or genetic make-up) and it’ ability to reproduce, which ultimately leads to cell death in the cancerous tumor.

What is SRT?

Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT), is a low energy radiotherapy that penetrates only a short distance below the surface skin. It is highly effective, painless, and a cosmetically attractive alternative to surgery in selected cancer and patient populations. The SRT-100™ is the new and most advanced choice for superficial radiotherapy available today. It is painless and every similar to having an X-Ray. Read Charlie Hall’s article in HealthScope, “A Non-Surgical Treatment for Skin Cancer: Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT)

Why choose SRT?

The SRT-100™ treats non-melanoma skin cancer that are found on the surface of the skin. It can be used for lesions on the arms, legs, back and trunk. It is especially well suited for skin cancers of the head and neck regions—the fold in the nose, eyelids, lips, corner of mouth, and the lining the ear—that would otherwise lead to a less than desirable cosmetic outcome. SRT is also a great treatment option for patients who are considered high risk for surgical procedures.