A new laboratory technique is supporting skin cancer treatment with Mohs surgery.
Understanding Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, caused primarily by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma are the three most common types of skin cancer and are highly treatable when caught early.
New Solutions
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized surgical technique for the treatment of skin cancer that involves removing and examining layers of skin until only cancer-free tissue remains. This method is considered the most effective treatment for BCC and SCC and achieves the highest possible cure rate while minimizing scarring.
Advancements in laboratory techniques have supported the effectiveness of Mohs surgery. These include immunohistochemical staining, a state-of-the-art approach that uses antibodies to detect antigens in a tissue sample. If the antibody recognizes an antigen, it binds to it and stains it a certain color that the pathologist can view beneath a microscope, confirming the presence of disease. During Mohs surgery, each layer of tissue that is removed is processed with immunostaining and examined under the microscope. The process is repeated only as needed until no cancer cells remain at the surgical margins.
Benefits to Patients
Immunostaining helps doctors accurately detect the presence of skin cancer, supporting the Mohs surgery process and cure rates. It has also broken new ground in the treatment of skin cancer by making Mohs surgery an effective treatment option for many appropriately selected melanomas, improving outcomes for a wider range of patients. Thanks to these advanced surgical and laboratory techniques, many patients have become cancer-free.
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in advertising. While attending Lee, Rachel served as editor-in-chief and creative director for the school’s biannual publication Vindagua and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. As managing editor for CMC Media & Marketing Group, she is responsible for the development and completion of 16 publications involving health, wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope®, CityScope®, and Choose Chattanooga® magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia. Additionally, Rachel has led digital marketing initiatives for CMC Media & Marketing Group as well as the development of content for the introduction of Choose Huntsville™, Huntsville Resource & Relocation Guide™ for Huntsville, Alabama.
