A cancer diagnosis is always a scary one, but when it’s skin cancer and caught early, the disease is at its most treatable. Whether you need skin cancer removal surgery or a non-surgical solution, with the help of your dermatologic surgeon, you’re sure to receive the right treatment with the best possible outcome.
Skin Cancer Removal Surgery in Indianapolis at the LASSI
When it comes to treatment options through the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, the choices are considerable. Our claim to fame, specifically, is Mohs surgery, or Mohs Micrographic Surgery, a name coined by Dr. Hanke himself in the late 1980s. Dr. Hanke has contributed to the development of modern-day Mohs skin cancer removal surgery techniques, a treatment first developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs. Dr. Hanke also served as president of the American College of Mohs Surgery and developed the first Mohs surgery training program at Indiana University School of Medicine.
In addition to Mohs surgery, other skin cancer treatment options we offer include cryosurgery, excision, and curettage with electrodesiccation.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery: When you need skin cancer removal surgery, Mohs micrographic surgery is one of the most effective options, but is currently limited to non-melanoma skin cancer*. It’s been around since the late 1930s, which means that dermatologic surgeons have had time to perfect it. During this procedure, tumors are precisely identified and removed while the surrounding healthy tissue is left intact.
Cryosurgery: During cryosurgery, your dermatologic surgeon will freeze precancerous skin lesions, causing them to fall off. Many people prefer this method because it doesn’t require the use of a scalpel. Stinging, swelling, and blistering are common side effects of cryosurgery.
Excision: Excision is a skin cancer removal surgery that removes the cancerous area as well as the surrounding tissue to prevent the disease from returning. Your dermatologic surgeon will then use sutures to close the area. Once the cancer is removed, your surgeon will send it to a lab just to make sure that the cancerous cells are gone.
Curettage and Electrodesiccation: With curettage and electrodesiccation, your dermatologic surgeon will give you a local anesthetic. They will then use a curette, which is a device that features a sharp ring-shaped tip, to remove part or all of a precancerous lesion. Electrodesiccation is a process that uses heat to cauterize the area and eliminate any remaining cells that may be abnormal.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery: The Gold-Standard in Skin Cancer Removal Surgery
The Mohs micrographic surgery is considered the best option for skin cancer removal because the surgery involves extracting the diseased skin layer by layer. Your dermatologic surgeon will then examine each layer under a microscope until reaching skin that is healthy and cancer free around the tumor. Of all skin cancer treatments, Mohs surgery offers you the highest success rate.
The microscopic evaluation process is what makes Mohs surgery unique and exceedingly effective. The pathologic assessment of the excised tissue is completed on site by a Mohs surgeon who has the training to differentiate cancer tissue from tissue that is healthy.
Mohs surgery is preferred because it takes extra precautions to make sure that cancers are completely removed during the surgery. This step practically ensures that the cancer won’t grow back and also minimizes the amount of healthy tissue that you lose. With Mohs surgery, you’ll likely experience a better surgical and cosmetic outcome. In addition, the site of the cancer is repaired at the same time that the cancer is removed. Studies show that Mohs micrographic surgery is able to provide a cure when other techniques have been unable to do so. It’s cost-effective since most people only need one surgery, and it also decreases the psychological impact of skin cancer returning that people experience when they face multiple procedures.
Why Choose the LASSI for Your Skin Cancer Removal Surgery?
When you receive a skin cancer diagnosis, you want only the most experienced professionals providing treatment. You’ll get that at the LASSI. With Dr. C. William Hanke on your case, you’ll have a surgeon who went above and beyond to obtain his educational and medical background. Skin cancer research is also a big part of our mission at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, so you’ll have access to the latest treatment techniques and a knowledgeable staff for your skin cancer removal surgery.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer or suspect you may have skin cancer, an appointment with Dr. Hanke will provide you with the best chance for success. Schedule your appointment today.
*Mohs Micrographic Surgery is currently being explored as an option for melanoma skin cancers.
