What is better for treatment of basal skin cancer radiation or Mohs?

A terrible experience, @itchyrich! But I'm amazed that your eyelid has healed so well.
I've had several facial Mohs surgeries but nothing like what you went through.
My last one, exactly one year ago, was on my lip & still bothers me daily; about 1/4 of
my upper lip is gone.
I've often wondered what might happen if a patient had to have Mohs on their eyelid or very close to their eye, now i know!
You're a brave guy & I'm glad to hear everything worked out for you.

@mustsell
There are so many options for treating skin cancers. Are you going to a major medical facility?

You mentioned radiation and MOHS. There are many more methods for treating skin cancer.

Radiation (I was treated for prostate cancer) does carry risk of damage to surrounding tissues. However it is an option. If you have a choice of what type suggest proton. Again requires some research but look up photon and proton radiation treatments.

You mentioned you have basal cell. That is a very common cancer and the spot you have it on top of head is very common also. Basal cell is very slow growing and rarely metasisis if caught early. The major risk from basal cell (this all comes from my Mayo dermatologist) is growing into surrounding tissues and organs.

I have had at least 8 MOHS surgeries. Yes that is a lot. I grew up in Florida where getting a sun burn was how much fun you had over weekend. I chose MOHS surgery because it only requires one office visit and you do not leave until no signs of the cancer remain.

What they do if you have not been told is the take tissues around your biopsy and pathologist gives a finding of whether there is any signs of cancer in the margins taken off. If no then you are done. If yes, then they remove more tissue and back to pathlogist for getting a clear. If not clear than continues. This type of surgery allows the minimum of amount of good tissue being taken off because it can be done in ingrements.

Out of the 8 or so cancer MOHS surgeries I had I only had one surgery where had to take more tissue. It was not basal cell though is was squamous (SCC). I only have had one SCC all rest basal cell (BCC).

Look up and research the methods of treatments for skin cancer. It has to be a personal decesiion. Yes it does take some time and usually have to wait. Why? MOHS ia a very specilized dermatologist surgery and surgeon goes through a lot of training to be certified to do them. Just remember basal cell is very slow growing.

Mohs surgery. The dermatologist should be a graduate from the american college of Mohs surgery. They look under the microsope to ensure that the margins are clear and they got it all.

I'm catching up on emails. When I originally read your message I thought I would be able to easily find some photos. Not so. Anyway, I've now found them. The first one is immediately after the Mohs surgery. It's hard to see, but the lower eyelid is pretty much gone. The second one is the day after the reconstruction surgery, which was the bigger deal. The eye was sewn shut for six weeks.

How thoughtful of you to find those surgery photos, I hope they didn't bring back memories!
Getting through that wins you a Brave Heart award, and I'm sure the others here agree with me.
Skin cancer surgery, MOHS or otherwise, especially on the face and head is a real bummer. We can only hope that someday in the near future, a more gentle method will be found.
Hope you find good health and a peaceful life in the future.

Hello, I have been diagnosed with lobular basal cell carcinoma. The biopsy confirmed the same. The surgeon attempted to remove the entire tumor during the biopsy, but the biopsy reported positive margins, a very deep lesion. It is located in the upper right eyelid.

I'm putting off seeing the doctor for other reasons. I'm saying this now, since if everything hasn't been removed, I'll have to undergo Mohs surgery.

Is it painful? Does it take time to heal? Since it hasn't healed, do you have any idea if it will reappear superficially or could grow inward?

I hope you understand my English; it was written with Google.

Greetings to everyone.

I am wondering if you meant Nodular BCC rather than Lobular. I can only find Lobular in relation to breast cancer.
Mohs surgery is your best option for BCC. It's possible for BCC to return but less likely with Mohs surgery as they make sure the margins are clear before they stop cutting. The surgery itself doesn't hurt, thanks to the slightly painful shots you get beforehand. Depending on where the surgery is located, it could be sore after the surgery. My lower eyelid surgery was sore and ugly for six weeks until the stitches were removed. I had one on my shin that got infected and took 10-12 weeks to heal. It never really hurt very bad.
My suggestion is to get the Mohs surgery before the BCC gets larger.

This is my second reply. I reread your message and thought of a couple more things.
In 1992 I had a large melanoma on my back and my dermatologist sent me to a plastic surgeon friend of his. The pathology report after the surgery said the margin was not wide enough. My wife insisted I go to the John Wayne Cancer Institute to see a surgeon who had removed one of her adrenal glands a few months earlier. His organization performed all kinds of tests prior to the second surgery and enrolled me in a clinical trial. It all worked as I'm still here 33 years later.
My BCC was on my lower eyelid. Going to the appointment I had no idea what was involved in the reconstruction surgery by a second surgeon and was really pissed when I found out my eye would be sewn shut for six weeks. I should have looked into it before I went. Live and learn. Good luck with your second surgery.

@gustavo1975 I had nodular basal cell carcinoma, between my throat and collarbone. What looked like a small spot on the surface had spread out underneath my skin. They did a MOHS surgery to get everything, and had to do 5 passes! That was very unusual. But, here I am, 5 years later, with this very neat jagged lightning-looking scar.

You probably want to get it all removed, so there is less chance of reoccurrence. That is my humble opinion. Any procedure will take time to heal, and everyone is different in their healing times.
Ginger

@gustavo1975
I have had about 8 Mohs surgeries to remove basal cell cancer (BCC) and one SCC.

You asked about MOHS. Is it painful. No. The most painful thing is getting the nummy medication into the area around where the MOHS surgery will be. After that you only feel pressure.

Time to heal really deals with where the surgery was done. How much skin was removed, etc. So not having that information can't comment nor would I as that is something a dermatologist should guide you on and/or your MOHS surgeon.

MOHS surgery is taking the diagnosed area and some tissue outside of the the diagnosed area. Then the tissue is sent to pathlology and it is determine if all cancer is gone or a need to take more tissue out. Then when more tissue is taken goes back to pathlology to determine if all margins are clear. You remain in surgery until all margins are clear.

Basal cell cancers grown slowly. Most are not going to metasisies (per my dermatologist) but can. My dermatologist said worst for Basal Cell is not treating and removing but letting grow. It can then invade other tissues, muscles, organs, as it grows and surgery become much more serious.

Why is so important to get it early with ongoing dermatologist inspection of your skin.