30,000 successful Mohs Micrographic Surgery Procedures for Skin Cancer.
- Posted on: Apr 20 2012
It is spring time and chances are you are spending more time outdoors with the longer days and warmer weather. This is a beautiful time of year and we are drawn out into the sun’s rays. It is a good time to remind you about protecting your skin from damaging UV rays. Sun exposure can lead to the production of lines, wrinkles, age spots, precancerous lesions and actual skin cancers. To read more about prevention, click here.
All of us at some point in our lives have probably increased our risk of exposure to UV radiation and skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. According to NCI (the National Cancer Institute), with over one million people diagnosed every year.
Check your skin:
Actinic keratoses are precancerous lesions that can progress and develop into skin cancer. They appear as dry, scaly scabs or red patches that do not heal. They are easily treated by light freezing with liquid nitrogen.
What will it look like if it is Cancer?
There are 3 main types of skin cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma– usually appears as a slowly growing, non-healing sore that often has a pearly raised border.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma– as with Basal Cell, this type usually appears as a slowly growing, non-healing sore but has a harder thickened scale.
Malignant Melanoma– Often appears as a pigmented lesion with irregular borders and irregular pigmentation.
If you have concern that what you are seeing may be skin cancer, contact Dr. Asarch’s office for an appointment at 303-720-7331.
Dr. Asarch was the first to bring Mohs Micrographic Surgery to Denver, and has performed over 30,000 successful procedures.
Initially developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a precise method for treating skin cancers. It is the most effective procedure for treating basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, with the highest success rate of all skin cancer treatments. Mohs allows surgeons to identify and remove tumors one layer at a time while preservings as much healthy tissue as possible.
Dr. Asarch received his specialized training with Dr. Mohs in 1977 and has performed over 30,000 procedures utilizing this technique for the removal of skin cancers. Dr. Asarch was the first doctor to bring this wonderful surgery to Colorado, and only in the last several years has the technique become widely available throughout the country.
Mohs Surgery is recommended for skin cancer removal for all the following situations:
- Anatomic Areas where preservation of healthy tissue is critical for cosmetic or functional purposes (such as eyelids, nose, face, fingers & genital area)
- Recurrent Tumors
- Aggressive Tumors
- Cancers with Indistinct Margins.
Want to learn more? Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Links
American Academy of Dermatology
American College of Mohs Surgery
Skin Cancer Foundation
Posted in: Blog Post