Radiation Vs Mohs On Nose: Comparing Your Options

If you're diagnosed with cancer of the nose, deciding which treatment is best might be confusing.

Both radiation therapy and Mohs surgery are actually viable treatments that offer advantages and drawbacks depending on your particular situation.

In this article, we'll walk you through the differences between radiation and Mohs surgery so you can make an educated decision when it comes to treating your nose cancer.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Surgery is a specialized type of skin cancer treatment for tumors found on the face, including the nose. 

The procedure involves removing layers of tissue from cancerous areas, one layer at a time, to minimize impact on nearby healthy tissue. 

During this process, each layer will be color-coded and examined microscopically to check for cancer cells that have been left behind in order to ensure all the tumor is completely removed. 

The goal of Mohs surgery is to remove all of the visible tumor without compromising nearby healthy tissue.

How Is It Used to Treat Skin Cancer on the Nose?

When it comes to treating skin cancer on the nose, Mohs Surgery may be used if there are signs that tumors may extend beyond what can be seen with just an examination. 

When used specifically for skin cancers on the nose, it is particularly useful when dealing with larger lesions or those located close to important structures around the nostrils and eyes. 

After completely removing any traces of cancer in these types of cases, reconstructive procedures can then be employed if needed.

What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy is a non-surgical procedure which uses radiation to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. 

The radiation is targeted at the tumor, but this can occasionally cause some side effects, such as scarring or burns. 

Radiation therapy is often used in combination with other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy to get the best outcomes. 

During radiation therapy, you will normally be given a series of daily treatments using a high energy ray beam that penetrates deep into your tissue. 

Recovery time from radiation therapy may vary depending on the size of your tumor and what other treatments are being used along with it.

How Is It Used to Treat Skin Cancer on the Nose?

Using high-energy rays such as x-rays and particles including photons, electrons, or protons, this type of cancer treatment works to directly target and kill cancer cells. 

By focusing radiation from outside the body onto the tumor itself, radiation therapy helps to stop its spread and reduce the size of tumors. 

Superficial Radiation Therapy vs. Mohs Surgery

Two common treatments for skin cancer on the nose are superficial radiation therapy (SRT) and Mohs surgery, and both have their pros and cons.

Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT)

SRT is a non-invasive form of radiation therapy used to treat early stages of skin cancer. It involves using high-energy x-rays or electrons to directly target areas of cancerous tissue.

Zero cutting required

It can be administered without cutting the skin, yet is still very effective in eliminating most types of skin cancer cells.

Benefits include minimal discomfort, fast healing times and high success rate with few side effects compared to other treatments.

The downside is that it cannot reach deeply seated tumors, making it unsuitable for more advanced forms of skin cancer.

Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery, also known as micrographic surgery or frozen section excision, is an extremely precise type of surgery used to treat certain types of skin cancer on the nose.

During this procedure, a surgeon removes small layers of tumor tissue until all the abnormal cells are removed while leaving as much healthy tissue intact as possible.

This process allows surgeons to ensure they have eliminated all traces of cancer while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

High Precision Surgery

The success rate with this type of procedure is quite high due to its precision in targeting the cancerous cells exactly.

The downside is that because it requires extensive knowledge from a skilled surgeon and that it does require some cutting into the affected areas – the potential for infection increases when dealing with open wounds post surgical procedures such as this one (though it's quite rare when proper care methods are followed).

Cure Rates Comparison: Mohs vs Radiation

The success rate of Mohs micrographic surgery largely depends on the type and size of skin cancer.

During any one particular operation, the majority of tissue removed by a skilled surgeon should contain all of the tumor cells, allowing for a very high success rate (99%).

Mohs surgery is most successful at removing tumors from the face, head and neck area, where there are often higher cosmetically sensitive areas.

Studies have shown that when treating aggressive or recurrent skin cancer types such as squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma, Mohs surgery has a much higher success rate than traditional surgical methods.

On average, Mohs surgery results in complete cure over 99% of the time compared to approximately 80-90% with traditional treatments.

Radiation therapy like SRT has been a very successful option for treating skin cancer.

The success rate is estimated to be around 97% for treating skin conditions such as BCC and SCC in elderly patients.

Radiation therapy works by using high-energy radiation to damage the DNA of cancer cells, stopping their growth and eventual death. Radiotherapy requires multiple treatments, usually 3-5 per week, usually over 4 weeks.

Radiotherapy can be used in cases of localized melanoma where it is not possible to perform surgery or if the patient cannot go through surgery due to age or other medical reasons.

Which One is Right for You?

Radiation therapy and Mohs micrographic surgery are both effective treatments for certain types of skin cancer. Both are highly safe and have high success rates, but they differ in a few ways. 

Ultimately, choosing between radiation therapy and Mohs will depend on what kind of treatment you want based on your individual needs and preferences, your doctor's recommendation, and any risks associated with each option.

Contact Dermatology & Skin Health today so we can explain both options in greater detail. We're happy to help you make an informed decision about which one is best suited for your needs.