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

Posted by mustsell @mustsell, Dec 14, 2023

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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jc76 | @jc76 | May 31 4:53pm

When I see the dermatologist, and they do a biopsy and find a SCC or BCC, they offer me the options to deal with it. I have always chose MOHS. I have had about 10 total of BCCs and SCCs.

For each of us we have to decide what is best for us personally not what is best for others. Scars, recovery, are more important for some than others. Some like me like MOHS because you don't leave until all the cancer is gone and no need to come back. To me this was important mentally as I knew I was leaving with the cancer removed.

I recently has MOHS on my left hand for a SCC. The length of the incision and width was much more than I thought. The Mayo Jacksonville MOHS surgeon said was going to use self dissolving stitches so I would not have to come back. I started having issues with sutures (separation, some raised areas) and asked for surgery check.

During the rechecked surgeon said what you are experiencing is normal and common and will take probably a couple of months to heal but scar would not be a prominent as if I had done regular sutures which have to be removed.

Then she said: "what is that spot on your hand." It was about 2 inches from the sutures and looked nothing like the bumps and separation on the sutures. They did a biopsy and regretfully came back SCC. There was a clear margin from that location to the other incision site so was a new SCC. This time she said will use regular sutures that have to be removed but will prevent the issues you had with the self dissolving sutures.

She was right. Had none of the issues or separation and bumps but had to get the sutures removed AND the scar that was left was clearly noticeable along my hand.

Frankly did not care as it was better for me to have a scar than to deal with prolong healing and the issues I had with dissolving sutures.

I just give my experience with my surgeries as it shows we are all different in what we feel is important and that is a decision we make for ourselves.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 31 5:41pm

In reply to @petvet1 "@susan49 Mohs with possibly plastic sx once determined clean especially for face. Then it’s gone done..." + (show)

@petvet1 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! By your user name, am i correct you are a veterinarian?

I have had several MOHS surgeries on my face, and arms, collarbone, hands, etc. Not once has plastic surgery been offered. I wish the squamous cell carcinoma in the middle of my forehead had had plastic surgery. After all this time, it is a very visible divot.
Ginger

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 31 5:45pm

In reply to @jc76 "When I see the dermatologist, and they do a biopsy and find a SCC or BCC,..." + (show)

@jc76

When I see the dermatologist, and they do a biopsy and find a SCC or BCC, they offer me the options to deal with it. I have always chose MOHS. I have had about 10 total of BCCs and SCCs.

She was right. Had none of the issues or separation and bumps but had to get the sutures removed AND the scar that was left was clearly noticeable along my hand.

Frankly did not care as it was better for me to have a scar than to deal with prolong healing and the issues I had with dissolving sutures.

I just give my experience with my surgeries as it shows we are all different in what we feel is important and that is a decision we make for ourselves.

Jump to this post

@jc76 Last summer i had MOHS surgery on the area of each eyebrow, at the same time, same day. One spot they used removable sutures, the other was dissolvable. Both healed up just fine, although the area of the removable has continued to be much more visible and prominent.

Hey, a scar is a scar. I have earned every wrinkle, gray hair and scar! Sometimes they can lead to fairly entertaining conversations, and teaching moments!
Ginger

jc76 | @jc76 | Jun 1 5:02am

In reply to @gingerw "@jc76 Last summer i had MOHS surgery on the area of each eyebrow, at the same..." + (show)

@gingerw
I enjoy post that make me smile or laugh: "Hey, a scar is a scar. I have earned every wrinkle, gray hair and scar! Sometimes they can lead to fairly entertaining conversations, and teaching moments!"

I agree and at my age they are the books of life. I have so many scars on my legs that everyone see during water aerobics if I start to tell the stories I would never be able to do the class.

I still like MOHS even if get scars. But that is me and completely understand others hesitant about scars, etc.

cleveland26 | @cleveland26 | Jun 1 2:31pm

I had BCC on the tip of my nose. I chose IG SRT rather than mohs surgery which finished 3 months ago. I'm a 78 year old male. Either from the original biopsy or the effect of the radiation I have a small divot at the tip of my nose. My modeling career is so over.

acornsandoaks | @acornsandoaks | Jun 14 8:36am

Following. I was told I have BCC but my dermatologist didn’t mention a type. I’ve been pretty anxious about Mohs and am glad to learn about IG-SRT.

My next step will be to find out the type and maybe contact Gentlecure. Appreciate comments or suggestions.

2buddy | @2buddy | Jun 15 4:47pm

In reply to @acornsandoaks "Following. I was told I have BCC but my dermatologist didn’t mention a type. I’ve been..." + (show)

@acornsandoaks Had #14 Gentle Cure treatment today on a basal cell nodular cancer on sidewall of nose and a Squamous cell insitu cancer on nose tip. No side effects as of yet other than sunburned appearance on skin of nose and some nostril crusting. I do not wish to be cut and the ultrasound done before each treatment measures to size of the cancers that day. Will get #15 & #16 this week . Then five more treatments and finished. I say give them a call.