Skin Cancer Treatment and Common Questions About Mohs Surgery

Skin cancer treatment at Southside Dermatology & Skin Cancer Surgery Center           

Many people wonder what is the most effective treatment for skin cancer. Depending on the type and size of your skin cancer, there may be several treatment options available. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma, although there are many more rare forms of skin cancer. Typically a biopsy is performed prior to definitive treatment for your skin cancer in order to determine the best treatment available. The team at Southside Dermatology will then discuss your biopsy results and schedule you for the best treatment to fit your needs. 

Mohs micrographic surgery 

One highly effective treatment is Mohs Micrographic Surgery, also known as Mohs Surgery. Mohs surgery is an in-office treatment performed under local anesthesia. Dr Robert Fischer, a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon and board-certified dermatologist, and Dr Alison Fischer, a member of the American Society for Mohs Surgery and board-certified dermatologist perform mohs surgery in our surgical specialty center within Southside Dermatology located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mohs surgery is especially helpful for tumors/skin cancers that are in cosmetically sensitive or difficult to treat locations such as the eyelid, ears, nose, and other parts face as well as larger lesions on the body or genital areas. It is also very effective for skin cancers that are recurrent after radiation or prior surgical removal. 

Planning your Mohs surgery procedure for your skin cancer 

Once it has been determined that mohs surgery is the best treatment option for your skin cancer, you will be scheduled for the procedure. The day of surgery, you should plan to take all of your regular medications. Please notify your surgeon of your medications, including blood thinners and over the counter/herbal medications. You should continue taking any blood thinners you have been prescribed. During the procedure, a thin layer of visible normal skin will be taken around your skin cancer. The tissue is then processed in our lab and the margins will be checked by your surgeon to ensure that there are no deeper roots or extensions of your skin cancer into deeper skin tissues. The process is completed when the margins are clear. This may mean that your dermatologic surgeon takes several sections around your surgical site to ensure that removal is complete. Once the skin cancer removal is complete, the site will be repaired with stitches, a skin graft, or left to heal on its own – a process called secondary intention healing. In certain select or advanced cases, your surgeon may coordinate the repair with a plastic surgeon or other surgical specialist. The entire process is typically completed within a few hours, but you should plan on the procedure potentially lasting as many as 4-5 hours. 

Helpful links for additional information 

American College of Mohs Surgery – https://www.skincancermohssurgery.org/about-mohs-surgery

American Academy of Dermatology –  https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions/skin-cancer

Scheduling at Southside Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center

Call today to schedule your appointment! We are conveniently located off of I-44 in Tulsa Oklahoma at the 41^stStreet exit. We see many patients from across Oklahoma, and as Oklahomans, we are proud to establish our physician practice in Oklahoma. Our phone number is 918-760-0700. Appointments are typically available within a week and most insurances are accepted!

A copy of this blog posting with more information about our clinic can be found online at www.dermatologyok.com