At Bay Oaks Dermatology - Skin, Vein and Laser Center, we believe in a two-fold
approach for skin cancers:
- Aggressive treatment of the skin cancer that minimizes scars.
- Prevention of future skin cancers.
Mohs Surgery
Dr. Sekula Gibbs has practiced Mohs surgery in the Houston area for over 20 years. As a member of the American Society for Mohs Surgery she adheres to high standards for using this highly successful technique. Mohs surgery provides up to a 96%-98% cure rate for primary basal celll skin cancer. And, by creating the smallest possible defect Mohs surgery patients have an improved opportunity for an excellent cosmetic result.
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized, highly effective technique for the removal of skin cancer. The procedure was developed in the 1950s by Dr. Frederic Mohs at the University of Wisconsin, and is now practiced throughout the world. Mohs surgery differs from other skin cancer treatments in that it permits the immediate and complete microscopic examination of the removed cancerous tissue, so that all “roots” and extensions of the cancer can be eliminated. Due to the methodical manner in which tissue is removed and examined, Mohs surgery has been recognized as the skin cancer treatment with the highest reported cure rates and small defects allowing for optimal cosmetic results.
Bay Oaks Dermatology - Skin, Vein and Laser Center is a CLIA certified facility approved to perform Mohs surgery.
Excision
If the tumor is large or if the skin cancer is aggressive,
as is melanoma, an excision will be necessary. Excisions are used
to treat both new and recurring tumors. With surgical excisions
a margin of healthy skin is cut around the cancerous region
to ensure that the entire cancer is removed. Depending on the
size and location of the excision it is often necessary to stitch
up the open skin, or move skin to cover the area from nearby
healthy skin, called a flap. Sometimes it may be necessary to
take skin from another part of the body and relocate it to cover
the wound. This technique promotes a healthy recovery of the
surgical site. This is called a graft. If the excision is small
and/or shallow there may not be a need for a closure. Allowing
the wound to heal openly is called healing by second intention.
Curettage and Dessication (C&D)
With this technique, tumor cells are scraped away and then
a short electric pulse is used to cauterize the remaining tumor
cells. It is very effective for certain types of pre-cancers
and skin cancers that have a low recurrence rate. Curettage
and dessication is not effective in treating melanoma or invasive
cancers.
Cryosurgery (CryoRx)
Croysurgery is especially effective in treating pre-cancerous
lesions like actinic keratoses, as well as smaller basal cell
and squamous cell carcinomas. A liquid nitrogen spray freezes
and destroys the tumor. Since this treatment option does not
break the skin it frequently results in little scarring. One
may see a discoloration or loss in color in the area
that is treated.
5-FU,5-Fluoro-uracil (Effudex®,Carac®)
Effudex®
is a topical cream used to treat actinic keratosis
and superficial basal cell carcinomas. It is absorbed through
the skin and bonds with the fast-growing cancer cells, leaving
the healthy cells unharmed. Treatment takes approximately two
to three weeks. One of the benefits of this treatment is that
it minimizes scarring, but the skin can become very raw during
the treatment, and recurrences are common.
Imiquimod (Aldara™)
Aldara™ is a cream that is used to treat actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.
It can attack tumor cells by raising the body’s immune
response to the cancer cells. It destroys these cells and allows
for healthy and new skin to grow in its place. A typical treatment
course lasts approximately 6 weeks or longer. The skin can look
very sore and ray during the treatment but the final result
is often quite acceptable.
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