When skin cancer is diagnosed either after a biopsy or excision surgery, one of the most effective treatment options is Mohs surgery. This procedure is precisely performed to remove all skin cancer cells around a tumor, but it is not recommended for all skin cancers. If you are wondering whether Mohs surgery will be needed for your treatment, come see our skin cancer specialist at MJR Dermatology in Lawrenceville, GA. Dr. Matthew Reschly can discuss when to do Mohs surgery and if it is right for your skin cancer treatment.
What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs micrographic surgery is one of the most effective treatments for skin cancer. This excision surgery is designed to remove all skin and tissue around a lesion or tumor that contains cancer cells while preserving as much of the healthy tissue as possible. Not all skin cancer removal treatments include Mohs surgery – it is primarily used for aggressive squamous and basal cell carcinomas (SCC and BCC) and some early melanomas.
During typical Mohs surgery, the skin cancer lesion is removed (if it has not already been excised) and a layer of skin around the lesion. This surgery is performed under local anesthesia while the patient is awake. Each layer of skin is inspected for cancer cells – if there are cancer cells present, another layer is removed. This can continue with up to dozens of layers or until the tissue is completely free of cancer cells.
Early melanomas removed with Mohs surgery will be performed with “slow Mohs.” This requires a layer to be removed and carefully analyzed. The patient goes home between the removed layers, taking longer for the treatment.
Do You Need Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a very meticulous procedure, and it is not recommended for all skin cancer treatments. It is typically recommended for more severe skin cancer cases of Merkel, SCC or BCC, or when the lesion is located in an area with little tissue beneath (eyelids, ears, nose, scalp, hand, genitals). However, it is very effective and has a high success rate for the treatment of skin cancer.
Dr. Matthew Reschly is one of Atlanta’s top Mohs surgery specialists. If you have skin cancer and want to explore whether Mohs surgery is right for you, contact us at MJR Dermatology. We can schedule your skin cancer treatment consultation with Dr. Reschly at our medical center in Lawrenceville, GA.