QUESTION: The growth on my face has been diagnosed as a basal type cancer. The doctor has referred me to a specialist who has a new technique that may require several visits, because he shaves away a little piece of the tumor at a time, then looks at it with a microscope before doing the next step.
Do you know of such a method, and why can't they just cut the damned thing off?
ANSWER: Actually, you do have that option, as a surgical procedure (excision) may be used to remove a basal cell carcinoma quite readily.
If the tumor is small enough, the doctor can then simply close the wound, or it may require a graft of skin to replace the removed tissue.
If enough normal tissue surrounding the tumor is removed, hopefully eliminating all cancer cells, a cure is attained in 95% of the cases.
The technique to which you refer is called Moh's Procedure, and can approach a 100% cure rate.
It is most useful when the tumor has a poorly defined border, for tumors located in areas where recurrence is frequent, or where normal tissue must be preserved.
Under local anesthesia, the tumor is removed but the wound edges are examined with a microscope to be sure that all the cancerous tissue has been removed.
The procedure is repeated layer by layer, wherever any abnormal cells are found, until none can be seen.
The operation requires special equipment and trained physicians, but promises the most reliable results.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
