Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Welcome to this tutorial about the most effective treatment for skin cancer: Mohs Surgery. This video and podcast are brought to you by Cary Skin Center, the only fully accredited Center for Excellence for Mohs Surgery in North Carolina.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard for treating Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), especially in cosmetically sensitive areas or for recurrent tumors. This procedure offers unmatched precision, combining the highest cure rates with the preservation of healthy tissue.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Skin Cancer Prevalence & Impact:
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with more new cases each year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined. Over the last three decades, more people have been affected by skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Treatment costs amount to an astounding $8.1 billion annually.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Melanoma's Rising Threat:
Though melanoma accounts for less than 2% of skin cancer cases, it is responsible for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. Alarmingly, melanoma is the only cancer among the seven most common types whose incidence is increasing, rising at a rate of about 2% per year.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Contributing Factors to Increased Skin Cancer Rates:
Sun exposure, indoor tanning, and ozone layer depletion significantly contribute to the rising incidence of skin cancer. Ozone depletion has led to a 4-5% increase in harmful UVB radiation reaching Earth, affecting areas like the United States.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Understanding BCC and SCC:
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, appearing predominantly in middle-aged and elderly individuals due to prolonged sun exposure. It often occurs on the face, ears, neck, trunk, and extremities. Squamous Cell Carcinoma arises on sun-damaged skin, often developing from precursor lesions like actinic keratosis. It can appear on various body parts, including the lips, ears, hands, and genitalia.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Mohs Surgery as the Gold Standard:
Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate for BCC and SCC, ranging from 97-99%. It is especially recommended for tumors located in cosmetically or functionally critical areas, recurrent cases, ill-defined margins, or aggressive and large tumors.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Advantages of Mohs Surgery:

• High Cure Rate: Examining 100% of the margins ensures complete tumor removal.
• Tissue Conservation: The procedure removes all tumor roots while sparing healthy skin, resulting in minimal surgical defects.
• Cost-Effectiveness: As an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia, Mohs surgery is more affordable than alternatives like radiation therapy.
• Aesthetic Outcomes: The precision of Mohs surgery allows for advanced reconstructive techniques, optimizing both functionality and appearance.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

Mohs Surgery Procedure:
The process involves meticulous steps:

1. Identifying and debulking the tumor.
2. Excising a saucer-shaped tissue sample with minimal margins.
3. Color-coding and mapping the tissue.
4. Examining frozen sections under a microscope to ensure complete tumor removal.
    This sequence is repeated until all margins are clear, guaranteeing thorough removal of cancerous cells.

Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer Treatment

This North Carolina Independent Dermatology Collaboration podcast explains the MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) exception, which allows clinicians to request reweighting of their MIPS performance categories to 0% if they experience extreme and uncontrollable circumstances. It specifically focuses on the February 2024 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, which significantly disrupted claims processing and payments for many healthcare providers across the U.S. The NCIDC deep dive details the impact of this attack on healthcare providers, including delayed payments, increased administrative burden, and financial strain on small practices. It also outlines the steps involved in applying for the EUC exception due to the cyberattack, including the required documentation and application deadline.

Cary Skin Center, a leading provider of skin cancer treatment in North Carolina, has become the first Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) Center of Excellence in Mohs Micrographic Surgery. This prestigious accreditation signifies their commitment to providing high-quality, safe, and effective care. The center has also expanded their services to include Mohs surgery for melanoma in situ, a precise and tissue-sparing treatment option for early-stage melanoma. This innovative procedure offers patients a less invasive alternative with lower recurrence rates and reduced overall costs compared to traditional surgical methods. The center's skilled surgeons utilize advanced techniques, such as immunohistochemistry staining, to ensure accurate and efficient removal of cancerous tissue, maximizing patient outcomes.

The percentage of large employers using a Centers of Excellence (COE) strategy to contain healthcare costs and improve outcomes for their employees has risen dramatically in recent years. More than three-quarters of large employers report using a Centers of Excellence strategy.  Medical treatment for skin cancer creates substantial healthcare costs for individuals, families, and employers.

Cary Skin Center, a leading provider of Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer treatment, is expanding its services. The center is relocating its Pinehurst location to Morganton Park North in Southern Pines, North Carolina, a modern medical campus offering a range of healthcare services. This move allows Cary Skin Center to increase its capacity and collaborate with other specialists in a central location, enhancing patient care and convenience. The center emphasizes its dedication to providing top-tier care for skin cancer patients in Moore County, ensuring they can receive treatment close to home.