MOHS

MOHS Surgery – Treatment of Choice for Common Skin Cancers

MOHS surgery is the most effective way to deal with the 2 most common skins cancers.

MOHS surgery has the highest cure rate for basal and squamous cell skin cancers. It is the best method for treating tumors that have come back after other treatments have failed. MOHS surgery offers cure rates of up to 99%; other methods can only achieve a cure rate of 50 to 90%.

MOHS Surgery is Precise

MOHS surgery is unique in its precision. Instead of removing the visible tumor and a large area of normal-appearing skin, the MOHS surgeon removes the smallest amount of healthy tissue and totally removes the cancer. Thin layers of skin tissue are expertly removed and examined under a microscope for malignant cancer cells. When the skin is tumor-free, surgery is complete.

There are several major advantages of MOHS Surgery. These are:

• It has the best cure rate – up to 99% versus only 50 to 90% of other techniques,
• It results in the smallest possible scar.
• MOHS surgery is excellent for the areas on the face including around the eyes, the nose, ears and mouth where keeping your normal tissue is so important The MOHS surgeon can trace and remove parts of the tumor that are invisible to the naked eye. After examining the tumor under a microscope, the surgeon knows exactly how far the tumor extends.
• When other methods have been unsuccessful, MOHS surgery still offers an excellent chance for cure!

In addition, this procedure does not require hospitalization or general anesthesia, which means it can be used on patients who would have a hard time tolerating conventional surgery. Since the mortality rate is almost zero, elderly patients in poor health can generally be treated safely. Patients generally do not have to be hospitalized and go home the same day. Patients are encouraged to dress in layers as the operating room can be cold and bring reading materials or other handy-work.

Expertise and Care

Dr. Johnathon Edge is the only fellowship-trained MOHS Surgeon servicing Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Dr Edge completed his medical degree and post-graduate training in dermatology at the University of Louisville. In addition, he completed a fellowship in MOHS Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at the same institution. He is a member of the American College of MOHS Surgery. Dr Edge is supported by a well-trained staff in the MOHS Surgical and Laboratory Facility.

Technique

Dr. Edge marks the outline of the tumor that can be seen. The area is then numbed. Once the area is good and numb, the cancer is removed. The tissue is then “mapped” so that precise orientation is maintained. From here it goes to the lab where the tissue is processed, slides are made and stained so that they can be examined under the microscope.

Once the slides are made, they are examined under the microscope. If any tumor remains, it’s precise location will be drawn on the map.

Dr. Edge  then removes additional tissue only where the cancer remains.  The tissue is then sent to the lab again for processing.

Once we are certain that we have removed all of the cancer, reconstruction options are considered.

Johnathon C. Edge, M.D.
MOHS Surgeon
Dermatology and Skin Cancer Specialists, PSC
161 N. Eagle Creek Dr, Suite 150
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 264-0557

Owensboro
1102 Triplett St., Suite 1001
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 663-1064

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