Basal cell cancer is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80 percent of skin cancer cases in the United States. It usually develops on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the face, neck, chest, and back.
While basal cell cancer grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, it is still a concern. Moreover, it can be disfiguring if not treated early, as the bump or growth tends to bleed, crust, heal, and start over again, and it can also cause damage to the surrounding skin.
There are several treatments for skin cancer, however, Mohs surgery is considered the most effective method for treating basal cell cancer. Below, we will talk about Mohs surgery for basal cell cancer and where you can get this specialized and highly advanced treatment in Miami.
What is Mohs Surgery?
Also called Mohs micrographic surgery, it is named after the doctor who developed the technique back in the 1930s – Dr. Frederic Mohs, professor of surgery at the University of Wisconsin. Mohs surgery allows for the precise removal of skin cancer while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
The procedure to remove basal cell cancer using the Mohs technique involves the layer removal of cancer cells along with a very small portion of healthy surrounding tissue. The goal is to remove all cancer cells without removing too much healthy surrounding tissue. The surgeon will remove all visible cancer and then take a thin layer of tissue from the area for testing.
The tissue will be taken to the laboratory right away to be checked for remaining cancer cells. The surgeon will create a map of the tissue to determine the precise location of the cancer cells. If the surgeon finds any cancer cells in the tissue, they will return to the patient and remove more layers of tissue according to the map they created. Then, they will take another thin layer of tissue to the laboratory to recheck if any cancer cells remain. Throughout the procedure, the patient is awake under local anesthesia and waits until the surgeon has removed cancer completely. The entire procedure can last anywhere from one to five hours.
Mohs surgery to remove basal cell cancer is not just extremely effective, it also leaves the smallest possible scar out of all techniques. If basal cell cancer develops in visible areas of the skin, such as the face, eyelids, and lips, ask your doctor about Mohs surgery. You may be a good candidate for it.
Basal Cell Cancer Surgery in Miami, FL
To treat basal cell cancer in the most effective and least conspicuous manner, you need to see a dermatologist in Miami with extensive experience treating skin cancer using Mohs surgery, or a Mohs surgeon. Dr. T.J. Giuffrida at Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Miami, Florida, is a highly experienced Mohs surgeon who routinely uses this technique to treat basal cell cancer.
Dr. Giuffrida can help you make an important decision about your skin cancer treatment. To schedule an appointment, call our skin cancer center in Miami today at (305) 461-2000 or use our convenient online appointment request form.
