Mohs Surgery: The Best Treatment Available For Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is still a prevalent issue in the world today. In fact, it’s the most common type of cancer there is. There are, of course, many things you can do to help prevent skin cancer, but if you’re already dealing with a diagnosis, you probably want to know which treatment you should seek. 

When it comes to certain types of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or basal cell carcinoma — especially in sensitive areas — we have found Mohs surgery to be the best option. Our dermatologist, Peter Malouf, DO, as well as our other providers, Amanda Miller, FNP-C and Haylee Terry, PA-C, want to provide you with the best, minimally invasive treatment for skin cancer, and as such, highly recommend Mohs surgery. 

Mohs surgery 101

With skin cancer, the site of the cancer itself is often a major factor in determining how to treat it. And while chemotherapy and other options are still available, we have found Mohs surgery to be the best treatment for many types of skin cancer in sensitive spots.

This is because Mohs surgery offers a preciseness that many other treatments do not. This makes it a fantastic option for those who have cancerous skin cells in areas on or near the nose, mouth, eyes, genitals, hands, or feet. 

Mohs surgery involves removing only the skin needed so that you can keep all unaffected, healthy skin in that area. This often leads to high satisfaction rates among patients. In fact, a 2020 study found 95% of patients were happy with the results of their treatment when using Mohs surgery. 

How Mohs surgery works

When you schedule your appointment for Mohs surgery, you might need to stop taking certain medications beforehand, including over-the-counter drugs that could thin the blood. You’ll be able to wear your own clothes during the procedure at our dermatology office, so make sure to dress comfortably. 

You’ll receive local anesthetic to numb the area being treated. During the procedure, Dr. Malouf will remove a layer of skin with a scalpel and look at it under a microscope in order to determine whether or not it is cancerous. This analysis portion takes time, so you will need to wait for the results. 

After the tissue has been analyzed, Dr. Malouf will let you know if more skin will need to be removed. This continues until all cancerous cells have been removed, after which the surgical site will be bandaged, stitched, or skin grafts will be applied, depending on how much skin has been removed.

Why choose Mohs surgery

Mohs surgery is an incredibly precise procedure that helps you avoid unnecessary removal of tissue or uncomfortable procedures in sensitive areas. The procedure may take one or several hours, depending on how much tissue must be harvested, but in the end, you’ll be able to return home without long-term recovery. 

The procedure is also one of the most successful options for treating first-time skin cancer diagnoses. The Skin Cancer Foundation states Mohs surgery has a 99% cure rate for skin cancer that hasn’t been previously treated. These are just a few of the reasons we recommend Mohs surgery any time it is appropriate to do so.

Don’t wait; get Mohs surgery today

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, there’s no time like the present to begin treatment. We are happy to help you get the help you need to recover from skin cancer in the safest, least invasive way possible. 

You can visit our Fort Worth, Dallas, or Cleburne, Texas office for treatment. Just book an appointment online or call us today.