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Non-surgical Option to Remove Basal Cell Cancer?

asked 2 years ago by barbara springstube
Latest answer by Stephen Prendiville, MD
Question viewed 6,511 times
Tags: nose, cancer

I have a basal cell cancer on bridge of nose. I have an appointment in September for Mohs surgery. I haven't met with the doctor yet, but I do not know what my options are besides surgery. Can they freeze it off? I already have a hole where the cancer is from a blister and the biopsy left a bigger hole. I also scar easily, as I have a scar on my neck from carotid artery surgery. I'm only 51 years old and single and I do not need another scar. Help, I need advice. Is there a non-surgical way to remove it?

9 answers to Non-surgical Option to Remove Basal Cell Cancer?

Non-Surgical Options for Skin Cancer

There are many options for treating your basal cell carinoma. Mohs micrographic surgery will provide the highest cure rate for your type of skin cancer. The cure rate for a previously untreated basal cell carcinoma is approximately 98.5-99%. Mohs surgery will also take out the least amount of healthy tissue around the skin cancer since you start with very thin (i.e. 1 mm) surgical margins. If you pick Mohs surgery, I would recommend picking a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon who is a member... more

Andrew Kaufman, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon

www.dermatology-center.com

Other options for BCC

From the sound of your situation, I would strongly recommend Mohs surgery. Other options, freezing, dessication and curettage, creams, ointments, are usually best for: Precancerous conditions Areas that are not cosmetically sensitive In patients with poor health who are unlikely to survive longer that the cancer grows From the sounds of things, you have a cancer blister, which implies invasive disease and the bridge of the nose is obviously cosmetically... more

John Bitner, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon

Basal Cell Carcinoma on Bridge of Nose

Although nonsurgical options such as Aldara and Radiation therapy exist, Mohs surgery remains the gold standard for treatment of any well defined skin cancer (BCCA or SCCA) on anatomically sensitive areas such as the nose, eyelids, lips, ears. From the stand point of cosmesis and recurrence, Mohs is the better way to go.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Options besides surgery for removing basal cell carcinoma

There are many options for treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but the cure rate varies greatly amongst these different options. The treatment with the highest cure rate is Mohs surgery. Some other options include curettage and dessication (aka: "scrape and burn"), standard surgical excision (taking blind margins without microscopic control--compared to Mohs you would have larger scar without knowing for sure whether the entire skin cancer was removed or not),... more

M. Christine Lee, MD
Walnut Creek Dermatologic Surgeon

Several options for basal cell carcinoma treatment

There are several options for treating basal cell carcinoma including freezing, curretage, aldera cream, and surgical excision (including Mohs excision). Talking with your dermatologist about your options is best. While surgical excision is has the greatest cure rate, fortunately there is time to try other treatments before proceeding to surgical excision if you are concerned.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Non surgical options for treatment of basal cell skin cancer

Not every basal cell cancer needs to be treated with surgery. Depending upon the location and the histologic nature of the tumor will help your dermatologist offer you different therapeutic options. There are pros and cons to each treatment. Surgery is always the best first option. Other options include aldara cream, effudex creatm, radiation or liquid nitrogen.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

www.palmbeachdermasurgery.com

Mohs micrographic surgery remains the best option for Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) on the face, scalp and neck

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) often has ill-defined borders and its true margins can sometimes fool even trained eyes of a board-certified dermatologist. Mohs Micrographic surgery remains your best bet medically and cosmetically as the tissues are examined under the microscope prior to reconstruction, ensuring least amount of healthy skin gets removed. With Mohs Micrographic surgery, you should be able to prevent potentially bigger scar down the line as the tumor is successfully eradicated at... more

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

Have basal cell cancer removed, but there is other treatment

Basal cell cancers are easy to treat and leave almost inconspicuous scars if removed early. If the lesion is inadequately treated, it may disappear from view for months or even years growing under the skin. When it reemerges, it may require extensive excision and reconstruction. Therefore, the margins of excision the first time must guarantee adequate removal. Basal cells can be treated with radiation, but this is generally limited to much older patients where the collateral from the... more

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Skin cancer removal

The best way to get rid of the skin cancer is to cut it out. Depeding on the size, the area can be reconstructed using adjacent skin tissue to cover the area. The scars can be put in less visible locations if possible. Nonsurgical options, such as freezing and topical aldara and radiation, only work for certain early skin cancers and can be temporary with return of the skin cancer, only larger and deeper. You are young and should consider removing the whole skin cancer by cutting it out... more

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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