I Have Squamous Cell Carcinoma in SITU on the Tip of my Nose. MOHS or Other Procedure?

Thank you for your question. Typically for this location, Mohs is the best choice for surgical treatment and intervention, as tissue conservation and ultimate cosmetic result (with complete removal of the cancerous tissue) is of utmost importance. For this location, this is usually the best recommendation, for an individual who is otherwise healthy and can handle a surgical procedure. Of course, this usually has to be determined by both the physician and the patient together, on a case by case basis. I hope this helps.

Historically, this was referred to as Bowen's disease. This refers to intra epidermal squamous cell carcinoma. (This is an actinic keratosis gone bad) Bkz of the superficial nature of this lesion, MOHS surgery is a bit of an overkill. The issue here is that this that this early skin cancer can go down into oil glands and hair follicles and may result in a slightly increased risk of recurrence after non MOHS treatment.

 

Ask your dermatologist about possible alternative treatments including Aldara, photodynamic therapy, and even aggressive cryotherapy. The nice thing about this disease is that it is low risk and if it comes back, more aggressive treatments can be used.

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ are superficial skin cancer that effect the very top layers of the skin. These tumors can sometimes be treated effectively with topical creams, such as imiquimod and 5-fluorouracil, light based treatments like photodynamic therapy, or curettage and electrodesiccation, or a standard surgical excision. When these therapies are used, there is a higher chance of the skin cancer coming back compared to Mohs. Mohs surgery is designed to spare healthy tissue and minimize the amount of surgery required - that's why it's often recommended for areas like the nose tip and other cosmetically sensitive areas. If you are hesitant about undergoing Mohs surgery, I recommend speaking to your physician to see if one of these alternatives might be right for you.