The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, affecting 4 million and 1 million people each year respectively. If you or someone you love is diagnosed with this particular form of skin cancer, you may elect to have a Mohs micographic surgery procedure. What’s so impressive about the Mohs technique is that it yields the highest rate of success while utilizing minimal technology.
Many patients also choose to have Mohs surgery because it is the single most effective technique for removing common cancers. Named for Dr. Frederick Mohs, the Mohs micrographic surgery technique was developed in the 1930s and had its own membership organization established in 1967 as the American College of Mohs Surgery. One of the reasons why the Mohs technique is still so widely used among surgeons today is because it completely removes cancerous cells while maintaining the greatest amount of healthy skin tissue. With the Mohs technique, cure rates for Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinomas are 98 percent.
Mohs micrographic surgery is simple and relatively painless. It’s usually performed in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia, and you are able to be awake for the entire procedure. Using a standard 15 blade scalpel, your Mohs surgeon will cut and remove a small piece of tumor to view under a high quality medical microscope. The removed tissues are frozen and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, standard medical stains, to help your surgeon determine if there are visible roots in the tumor. If cancerous roots can be see with the microscope, he or she will then remove another layer of the tumor and repeat the process until all of the cancer is gone.
After the last of the cancer is removed, your incision site will be closed with stiches. Depending on how many layers of tumor need to be removed, the entire procedure could take approximately one to three hours. That being said, time away from physical activity can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
For more information about Mohs surgery, call us at 317-838-9911 (for the Plainfield location) or 317-732-8980 (for the Zionsville location). One of our friendly staff members will be happy to answer your questions and get an appointment scheduled.
Disclaim: This blog provides general information and discussion about medical, cosmetic, mohs, and surgical dermatology. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed dermatologist or other health care worker.