Treating skin cancer with Mohs surgery

Greater than 5 million folks within the U.S. can be recognized with a type of pores and skin most cancers in 2023 — both basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma — in line with the American Most cancers Society. Greater than 97,000 folks can be recognized with melanoma.

Watch this “Mayo Clinic Minute” video to listen to Naiara Sbroggio Barbosa, MDa Mayo Clinic dermatologist, clarify how Mohs surgical procedure can be utilized to deal with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and a few kinds of melanoma:

Pores and skin most cancers is the commonest kind of most cancers within the U.S., and with completely different varieties and conditions, there are additionally completely different therapies.

“Mohs surgical procedure is a method used to deal with pores and skin cancers, particularly in areas of the pores and skin which are thought-about high-risk or cosmetically delicate, just like the face, scalp, ears and neck,” says Dr. Sbroggio Barbosa.

With Mohs surgical procedure, physicians take away pores and skin surrounding a tumor with out eradicating massive quantities of wholesome tissue. Instantly after elimination, lab technicians course of the specimens and place them onto slides for the doctor to judge underneath a microscope.

“If we see any tumor going deeper or wider, we now have the power to return and take extra,” says Dr. Sbroggio Barbosa. “We do this till there is no most cancers.”

The process occurs underneath native anesthesia and may take just a few hours, as extra samples across the affected space could have to be collected and checked.

“On this means, we will spare as a lot as potential wholesome pores and skin, however we additionally assure the very best treatment price so there’s much less likelihood of that tumor ever coming again,” says Dr. Sbroggio Barbosa.

Study extra

Study extra about Mohs surgery and skin cancer.

Discover a skin cancer clinical trial at Mayo Clinic.

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