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Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and the world, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. On average, roughly 50 Americans die every day as a result of the disease.
But there is some good news: When caught early, most skin cancer is very treatable. For many people, that treatment involves Mohs surgery, an advanced, precise type of surgery that removes cancerous tissue while preserving healthy skin.
At Luminary Dermatology, Dr. Michael Foss is skilled in Mohs surgery techniques that help eliminate skin cancers on the face, scalp, neck, and other parts of the body. Here, learn how Mohs surgery works and why it's considered the gold standard for skin cancer treatment.
Mohs surgery: The gold standard
Developed in the 1930s, Mohs surgery is a special surgical technique used to treat specific types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the two most common types of skin cancer.
During Mohs surgery, tissue is removed layer by layer, then immediately evaluated under a microscope. If the margins of the tissue are free of cancer, the incision is closed and the surgery is finished. If cancer cells are noted at the margins, additional tissue is taken from that specific area and reexamined.
This simple process continues until all the margins are free from cancer cells. Although the technique has evolved somewhat over the years, the surgery itself remains the gold standard for skin cancer treatment for a variety of reasons.
Tissue preservation
Because the Mohs technique removes tissue layer by layer, it preserves more healthy tissue compared to traditional surgical excision that removes a wide margin of surrounding tissue. By preserving healthy tissue, Mohs surgery can result in faster recovery times and reduced scarring.
Minimizing the amount of healthy tissue that’s removed is especially important for skin cancers on very visible areas, like your lips, nose, or near your eyes. It’s also important for cancers in functional areas like your hands that are subjected to lots of skin movement.
In addition to producing smaller or more confined scars, minimizing how much tissue is removed also supports a better cosmetic outcome following surgery.
High cure rates
In addition to preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, Mohs surgery is also associated with excellent cure rates — up to 99% for new cases of both BCC and SCC.
Because of its high level of precision and the ability to check tissue margins during surgery, Mohs surgery is associated with high cure rates for recurrent cancers, as well — up to 94% for recurrent BCC and 90% for recurrent SCC.
Lower recurrence rates
Mohs surgery can help prevent recurrence. Because Dr. Foss removes tissue layer by layer and immediately evaluates it under a microscope, Mohs surgery helps minimize the risk of leaving cancerous cells behind where they can multiply and grow. The layer-by-layer approach helps ensure cancerous cells below the skin’s surface are spotted and removed, as well.
Faster treatment time
In traditional tumor excision techniques, tissue is sent to a lab for evaluation, which means patients must wait for several days before they return for additional surgery if needed. By contrast, Mohs surgery evaluates the tissue immediately, enabling Dr. Foss to remove all the cancerous tissue in a single appointment.
Schedule your skin cancer screening today
Having an annual skin cancer screening is one of the best ways to identify skin cancer in its earliest stages. To schedule your screening or to learn more about Mohs surgery and other skin cancer treatments, book an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. our team at Luminary Dermatology. We have offices in Arcadia, Miami, Bradenton, Homestead, Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, and Northport, Florida.