Things to know about Mohs Surgery

Among all the cancers known skin cancer is usually not fatal. It can be cured easily by doctors if caught early. This is how early awareness plays a big role. We all need reminding to cover up from the sun and to apply sunscreen liberally before going out. Some people are more prone to developing skin cancer than others. But everyone in West Palm Beach can benefit from being mindful about the damaging quality of sun rays.

How is skin cancer treated?

A simple but effective way to treat common skin cancers is Mohs surgery. Developed in 1938 by Dr Frederic E. Mohs, a general surgeon, it employs a microscopically controlled surgical technique. When the cancerous cells are located Mohs surgery can be used as it basically peels off the affected skin layers until there are no more affected cells left. Thus this method allows for removing skin cancer with a very narrow surgical margin and thereby provides a high success rate. The cure rate for the most common type of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, is thought to be between 97% and 99.8% when treated with Mohssurgery.

How costly is treatment?

While surgery is generally expensive for any health issue, Mohs surgery is usually more cost effective than other surgeries when considering the expenses of tissue removal and histopathological analysis. Mohs treatment costs about $ 1,100 per case while conventional cancer excision costs around $900. The exact charges may vary from state to state or even city to city. Many experts recommend Mohs surgery highly when the cancer is localizes in areas where tissue needs to be preserved, such as the face, hands, feet and genitals. The technique should not be employed on the trunk or hands and feet for straightforward, non-melanoma cancers that are less than 1cm in size.

What is the technique?

Four steps are involved here. First, there is surgical removal of tissue. Second, this tissue is mapped, frozen and then cut into pieces using a cryostat and stained. Third, the pieces are investigated under the microscope. Finally there is reconstruction of the surgical defect.

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