What is better for treatment of basal skin cancer radiation or Mohs?
I have basil skin cancer on my forehead.
What is the best treatment radiation therapy or mohs therapy. And what is more invasive? How long can I wait to start treatment as mohs surgery doctors have long waiting times.
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I must disagree with your statement that Moh's surgery is NOT painful. It depends on the cancer's location and the surgeon's technique and skill. Of course the "pain numbing meds. hurt". So does the actual surgery, and so does the after-effect and supposed healing of the surgery.
It has been one year since my last Mohs. 1/4 of my top lip is gone & so tight I can't enunciate some words properly. Nerves have been cut & will never regrow.
I have no intention of going back unless techniques in the future have made it possible for the patient not to suffer.
@mermaid7272
We on MCC give your personal experiences not the experiences of others.
I gave my personal experience with MOHS surgery. I have had at least 6 of them. I had no pain during the surgery because of the pain medication injected in and around the site. The surgeon then used a sharp instrument to poke around the surgery area and asked can you feel any pain. My answer with all surgeries was no.
I don't think those on MCC should say what others will feel or not feel. What you felt which is not what I have read from many others on MCC as well as what I felt is and was not the same as others that have posted nor mine. It is not saying you did not feel pain or had issue after recovery it is just saying that was your personal experience not what others should expect to be the same from our post nor mine.
MOHS surgery is highly technical and requires specific training to do it. Now I say this as the special training required to do them is a requirement at Mayo Jacksonville. I cannot comment on other medical facilities just what is required at Mayo Jacksonville and my experience with my surgeries and my experience.
When some on MCC asked a question about pain or what we expereience then we reply wiht our experience. And with mine at least 6-7 times I had MOHS and never had any pain during surgery. There was some minor soreness after pain medication wore off but was very very minor.
I intended to give my experience with MOHS surgery and what I experienced with it. I stand by my post and what I experienced. If I can help others with what I experienced with a great surgeon and great medical facility that is what my post was for.
Your expereince with MOHS surgery is your personal experience. I hope that those on MCC will not expect the same as your experience as is a personal experience with what appears a very sensitive area for MOHS surgery.
It is why we on MCC suggest getting second opinions when in doubt over which treatment to get after researching on their own and asking all the questions of your surgeon of all the pros and cons.
Everyone is different. Every surgery is different. The skills and experience of surgeons are all different. Thus a person's experience with any cancer surgery will be different and specific to them.
I had great success with MOHS surgery with no pain at all during surgery. My healing procsss was without pain. MY sugeries all heal quite quickly with exception of the one on my nose that took more time than the others. However not one person could see where I had the BCC removed.
I for one would not hesitate to have another MOHS surgery done. But that is me and we are all diffferent in what we will do or not do based on our personal experience.
You gave your experience with MOHS, which was greatly different than mine. You felt no pain or discomfort, I did, I have had 5 MOHS surgeries, so that is a pretty good representative number to base my experiences upon.
My experience is just as valid as yours, and needs to be told to someone who might be contemplating MOHS.
Good luck in the future.
I have SCC on my legs and have had numerous MOHS surgeries! Non of them hurt while in surgery, they numb you all up. It's the aftermath that's the worst...lower leg doesn't heal very fast.
I had written on Mayo several months ago and was suggested to go to "wound care" with my open wounds.
It's the Greatest!!!!!!
I am also having infusion of immunotherapy ever 3 weeks to combat my skin issues.
I currently have 2 open wounds on my shins and will be going back to wound care in another week or so.
My bottom line:
MOHS is the way to go, not radiation.
@lips702
Agree MOHS at least for me was the way to go. I liked the procedure of not leaving surgery office until all signs of the cancer are removed.
The key to MOHS is getting the diagnosis of BCC and SCC as soon as possible. When not caught early both can spread into muscles and bones. Then it goes way above MOHS surgery to eradicate the cancer.
My Mayo doctors told me the reason leg wounds and surgery take so long to heat is they are the farthest from heart.