Radiation vs Mohs Surgery

If you have a form of non-melanoma skin cancer, you are likely researching your available treatment options. The two primary choices you have to choose between are radiation and Mohs surgery. Today, we are sharing with you the differences between radiation vs Mohs surgery and how to determine which one is right for you. 

What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) is a non-invasive treatment method. Essentially, we use an Image-Guided Superficial Radiotherapy (IG-SRT) machine to deliver a low dose of radiation just below the skin’s surface to destroy cancer cells.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery, also known as Mohs micrographic surgery, is a multi-step, minimally invasive procedure. Mohs surgery follows this procedure:

• Apply a local anesthetic to the treatment area
• Using a scalpel, the surgeon will remove a layer of the target zone and its surrounding area.
• The surgeon checks the skin with a microscope for cancer cells.

The surgeon repeats will repeat steps two and three until all cancerous cells are removed.

Radiation vs Mohs Surgery: Which One is Right for You?

When it comes to radiation vs Mohs surgery, there are various aspects to consider when determining which one is right for you. Radiation therapy requires no incisions, and the radiation itself is less than an average chest x-ray. Patients usually feel only mild irritation during the treatment, and they have little to no recovery requirements. Unfortunately, a few variables may disqualify a patient for radiation therapy, including age and certain medical conditions.

The benefits of Mohs surgery are its precision and effectiveness. During this process, we remove only a minimal amount of skin, reducing scarring and surgical risk. Additionally, Mohs surgery is the most effective technique for treating BCC and SCC skin cancers. However, any incision has the potential to scar and will need after treatment care.

So, which one is right for you? To determine the best path for your specific needs, we highly recommend making a consultation appointment with our experienced team. We take the time to provide you with an in-depth explanation of radiation vs Mohs surgery and other available procedures and which option will most benefit you.