Mohs Surgery: Blast from the Past for Skin Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a scary word coming from your doctor. There are many forms of cancer, but skin cancer is the most common in the United States. Three of the most common skin cancers are Basal Cell, Squamous Skin Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma. Basal and Squamous are curable but costly and can lead to disfigurement. Melanoma is the most serious and left untreated can spread to the internal organs which can lead to death.

Research is still being done to rid the body of cancer. However; there is a treatment for skin cancer which was developed years ago, called Mohs Micrographic Surgery or Mohs Surgery.

 

1. What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Surgery is not new; Fredric E. Mohs developed it in the 1930s. It was initially called Chemosurgery but was renamed in the 1960s for its founder when Perry Robins M.D., a dermatologist, worked with Fredric Mohs to enhance the procedure. After word spread in the 1970s and 1980s, the method was used more often but has gained in popularity over the past 15 years.

Mohs Surgery has proven to be cost-effective in treating Basal and Squamous Skin Cell Carcinoma. Patients experience little scaring and a high cure rate of about 99 percent when treated for the first time and 94 percent in patients with the recurring disease after previous treatments. Some Melanoma Cancers have been treated successfully with Mohs Surgery. Mohs is not highly recommended for Melanoma since this type of cancer can spread deep into the skin and organs.