Do I require a follow-up appointment? Yes. We recommend you have a follow-up appointment to ensure everything has healed correctly following your Mohs surgery in Parker, CO.
Does insurance cover Mohs Surgery? Typically, yes. While most insurance does cover Mohs surgery to some extent, we always recommend contacting your insurance provider to verify your benefits.
What is skin cancer? Skin cancer (abnormal cell growth in the skin) is the most common type of cancer people develop, and it usually develops in areas of the skin that receive the greatest amount of sun exposure. Untreated skin cancer has the potential to spread to other parts of the body and ultimately cause death. It is important to note that skin cancer can also occur on skin that doesn’t receive significant sun exposure.
What types of skin cancer are there? The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma Breakdown: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth that arises in the skin’s basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). Appearance: BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars and are usually caused by a combination of cumulative and intense, occasional sun exposure. Squamous Cell Carcinoma Breakdown: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. It is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising from the squamous cells in the epidermis, the skin’s outermost layer. Appearance: SCCs often look like scaly red patches, open sores, warts, or elevated growths, which may crust or bleed. They can become disfiguring and can be deadly if allowed to grow. Melanoma Breakdown: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in the skin’s pigment-producing cells. Early detection of Melanoma skin cancer is critical to long-term survival. Appearance: They can occur anywhere on the body and may look like a new, unusual growth or an existing mole growing or changing.
How is skin cancer treated? Treatment options for skin cancer depend on the patient’s cancer. At Elevated Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery Center, treatment options for skin cancer include surgical procedures to remove the skin cancer (Mohs surgery and surgical excision) and topical therapy. Mohs Surgery Mohs surgery has a cure rate that is greater than 99%. It involves removing the cancer cells in stages until all cancerous cells are removed. Mohs surgery allows cancerous tissue to be removed while preserving the greatest amount of normal surrounding tissue. Surgical Excision Surgical excision works by removing skin cancer using a safety margin of normal-appearing skin around the cancer. Surgical excision removes melanomas with a wide margin. Some melanomas are best removed with a staged excision with a delayed repair.
