Mohs Surgery (cont.)
Is Mohs only for skin cancer?
Yes, Mohs is a widely used method of
surgically removing the most common types of skin cancers, including basal cell
carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It is currently not used to remove
noncancerous growths. Less frequently, Mohs may also be used for other
malignant tumors. In special cases, Mohs may be used to surgically treat
malignant melanoma, lentigo maligna, dermatofirosarcoma protuberans, merkel cell
tumor, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, malignant trichoepithelioma, angiosarcoma,
atypical fibroxanthoma, and other cancerous tumors. However, most Mohs surgeons
treat primarily basal and squamous cell cancers by this technique.
Am I a good candidate for Mohs surgery?
You
may not be a good candidate for Mohs if you are unable to tolerate local
anesthesia, have extreme anxiety, have a surgical phobia, or are in very poor
health.
Your decision on the best treatment choice may depend on different factors
such as the location and type of skin cancer, your past treatments, your overall
health, and level of comfort. Your physician can help you sort through the
different treatments and assist in your shared decision-making process. However,
the right decision for you is always yours and your doctor's to make.
What if I have artificial joints or other health issues?
Your Mohs surgeon
needs to know of any underlying medical conditions that may affect your surgery
or wound healing. You would want to be certain to tell your surgeon beforehand
if you have any artificial parts (implants) like knees or hips, a pacemaker or
defibrillator, or need to take antibiotics before dental procedures because of a
heart condition or murmur.
Your Mohs surgeon needs to know if you have had a history of "Staph" or other
skin infections in the recent past. You may be asked to wash with a special
antibiotic soap or wash like Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) the night or morning
before surgery to help reduce the number of bacteria on your skin.
Patients need to also advise their surgeon of any drug allergies to
anesthetics like lidocaine (Xylocaine), epinephrine, or novocaine. Additionally,
the surgeon may need to know of any bleeding or bruising tendencies, hepatitis,
HIV/AIDS, or pregnancy.
Next: What areas are treatable by Mohs surgery? »
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