In case of melanoma skin cancer, the dermatologist will recommend the type of treatment according to the location and stage of the melanoma and the patient’s overall medical condition. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin cancer treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other suburbs and communities in this section of the US.

Treatments for Different Stages of Melanoma

Treating Stage I Melanoma

Stage I melanomas have not developed further than the upper layer of the skin (the epidermis). They are typically surgically treated (wide excision) to eliminate the melanoma and a small margin of healthy skin surrounding it. The sample that is removed is sent to the lab to be examined under a microscope. If cancer cells are visible at the border of the sample, the surgeon will repeat the excision process.

In some cases, the treatment provider may prescribe a sentinel lymph node biopsy, specifically if the melanoma is stage I-B or has other attributes that make it possible for it to have reached the lymph nodes. The patient and physician should discuss this alternative.

If cancer cells are detected on the sentinel lymph node biopsy, a lymph node dissection (elimination of all lymph nodes near the cancer site) is frequently recommended. However, it is not sure whether this leads to an improvement in the survival.

Some treatment providers may prescribe adjuvant (additional) procedures with interferon post lymph node surgery. Other medications or vaccines might be alternatives as a part of a clinical trial to try to reduce the chances of the melanoma recurring.

Treating Stage II Melanoma

Wide excision (the surgical procedure to remove the melanoma as well as a margin of healthy skin surrounding it) is the standard treatment for melanoma in stage II. The amount of the healthy skin that will be removed is dependent on the location and thickness of the melanoma.

Since the melanoma may have spread to the nearby lymph nodes, several physicians recommend a sentinel lymph node biopsy. The patient should discuss this option with their doctor. If the sentinel node biopsy reveals the presence of cancer cells, then a lymph node dissection (the procedure in which all the lymph nodes in the region are removed surgically) will probably be performed at a later time.

For certain patients (such as those with lymph nodes with cancer), the provider may recommend interferon treatment post-surgery (adjuvant therapy).

Recurrence

Treatment for Locally Recurrent Melanoma

These local (skin) recurrences are treated with a surgical procedure similar to that for primary melanoma. The doctor may recommend other treatments depending on the location and thickness of the melanoma. A total lymph node dissection may be performed if the melanoma has recurred in the nearby lymph nodes.

Reconstructive surgery may be performed if the area of the skin removed is fairly large due to multiple tumors grouped close to each other. Reconstructive surgery will repair the skin and the surrounding area where the melanoma is removed.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and nearby areas for skin cancer treatments.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Mohs micrographic surgery is a state-of-the-art, targeted and effective way of removing various forms of skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The procedure causes minimal damage to the surrounding normal tissue.

Mohs surgery is a time-tested technique for cancer removal in a minimally invasive way. Today, it is still widely recognized as an effective and efficient method to address Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Notably, Mohs surgery has a cure rate of up to 99 percent for skin cancer which is much higher than some other accepted cancer treatments.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin cancer treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities across the horizon.

More Effective than Local Excision Surgery

Mohs surgery is effective on most common forms of skin cancer such as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma along with some forms of melanoma and other less common skin cancers. The objective of this treatment is to eliminate as much skin cancer as possible without damaging the surrounding normal tissue. The surgery is typically an out-patient procedure and uses local anesthesia.

This type of surgery is more advanced than traditional surgery (local excision). Local excision surgery involves eliminating visible cancer as well as a small margin of surrounding normal tissue simultaneously.

Mohs surgery enables surgeons to make sure that all the cancer cells are eliminated during the surgical procedure. This leads to an increase in the possibility of cure and decreases the requirement for further treatments or surgical procedures.  

Prior to the Procedure

In many cases, the Mohs surgery procedure for SCC procedure takes a few hours to complete. However, since it can be challenging to understand the extent of a skin tumor just by viewing the surface, physicians frequently advise the patient to reserve the entire day for the procedure.

In preparation for the surgery, the surgeon or nurse will cleanse the treatment area and outline it using a special pen. They will inject the area with local anesthesia. The anesthetic will numb the skin so that the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort during the treatment.

During the Procedure

After the anesthesia takes effect, the surgeon will use a scalpel to remove the noticeable part of cancer as well as a fine, underlying tissue layer that is slightly bigger than the visible tumor. The surgeon will place a temporary bandage on the incision site. This process only takes a few minutes.

The surgeon then sends the tissue to the lab for analysis. This part of the procedure is the most time intensive. If the cancer is found to be remaining, the surgeon will continue the Mohs surgery. The surgeon will take out an additional tissue layer from the impacted area ensuring the removal of cancer containing tissue while causing minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. Then the surgeon will examine the tissue in the lab once again.

The surgeon repeats this process till the last sample of the removed tissue is free of cancer. Local anesthesia can be administered again as necessary.

Outcomes

A key advantage of Mohs surgery is that the results are apparent immediately. The patient does not leave their appointment till all the skin cancer is eliminated.

The patient may have a follow-up appointment with their surgeon to monitor their recovery and ensure that the wound is healing correctly. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other towns and suburbs in this region of the nation for skin cancer treatments.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Curettage is a minimally invasive technique involving scraping away layers of the cancerous lesion using a circular or oval-shaped instrument known as a curette. The patient receives local anesthesia before the procedure to minimize any discomfort.

This procedure is usually performed in non-sensitive locations on the body where some mild scarring is acceptable. It is typically effective on superficial cancerous and non-cancerous lesions.

The wound is usually cauterized after the impacted area is scraped. This increases the possibility of a successful procedure as well as minimizes bleeding. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin cancer treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations.

When to Choose Curettage?

Curettage procedure is usually effective on small, superficial basal and squamous cell carcinomas that have sharp outlines. This treatment is typically performed on the trunk of the body and other regions where the scars caused by this procedure are tolerable.

Curettage may be an ideal choice for a patient who cannot bear more invasive surgery. This treatment is highly effective with a good success rate in curing certain types of skin cancers. It is also an efficient and cost-effective procedure.

No General Anesthesia, No Sutures

A local anesthetic is used to numb the treatment area. Subsequently, a curette is used to scrape away the abnormal cells in the region. Short bursts of electrical current are used to cauterize tissue through a process known as desiccation. The wound is usually left to heal without using sutures.

How to Prepare for the Treatment

Prior to the procedure, the dermatologist will assess the patient’s health history and conduct a physical examination. This time will also appropriate for the physician and patient to discuss the possible risks and benefits from the treatment as well as develop expectations from the procedure. Patients should inform the dermatologist about the over the counter and prescription medications that they are currently using.

What Should I Expect Before and During the Procedure?

The procedure is rapid and can be performed in-office. The patient is administered a numbing medication (local anesthesia). Therefore, they will not feel any pain or discomfort during the treatment. The physician may scrape and burn the treatment area up to three times.

The patient may notice an unpleasant odor when they wound is cauterized. The physician will likely cover the wound using a bandage. The patient will receive post-procedure instructions to care for the wound.

What to Expect After the Procedure

The recovery time is typically minimal, and several patients can drive themselves home after the treatment. The wounds usually take many weeks to heal. The patients are provided guidelines on bandaging and cleansing the wound to enhance the healing process.

How Effective is the Treatment

The curettage procedure for skin cancer has a cure rate of almost 99 out of 100 for basal cell cancer which is less than 1 cm (.04 inches) wide. The cure rate is around 84 out of 100 for cancer that is larger than 2 cm (0.8 inches) wide. This procedure is very successful in treating new skin cancers. It is less effective on recurring skin cancer where there is scar tissue development.

Potential Risks

Curettage has similar risk associated with it as any other skin cancer treatment. If a highly skilled dermatologist performs this procedure, these risks are minimized. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other neighborhoods and communities in this part of the US for skin cancer treatments.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.