Image-Guided SRT Compared to Mohs Surgery
Skin Cancer Treatment Without Surgery May Be an Option
For years, Mohs surgery has been a common treatment for people with skin cancer. Today, eligible patients with certain basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers may have another option: Image-Guided SRT, also known as IGSRT, a non-surgical treatment.
Learn about 2 skin cancer treatment options
Mohs Surgery
Image-Guided SRT
The skin cancer is cut out of the skin, making a wound and leaving a scar.
Low levels of X-ray energy are used to treat the skin cancer cells, allowing healthy skin to grow back.
The size and depth of the skin cancer is only known after the cutting starts.
Uses ultrasound imaging to help find, measure, and monitor the treated area over time.
Local anesthesia is used to dull the pain prior to cutting.
Anesthesia is not needed.
More than 1 surgery during the day may be needed to remove all the skin cancer.
Eighteen to 25 short treatment sessions (about 10 minutes each) over the course of several weeks.
The surgery leaves wounds, which will need to be cared for by changing bandages, not showering, and not doing normal activities.
There is no surgical wound, so patients do not need to pause normal daily activities during treatment.
Scarring may need to be fixed with reconstructive surgery.
No downtime is required during or after treatment with GentleCure IGSRT.
Only 1 skin cancer can be treated at a time.
More than 1 skin cancer can be treated at a time.
Mohs surgery works 96% to 98% of the time.
Published research supports a 99%+ cure rate for Image-Guided SRT in the treatment of certain basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.
Mohs Surgery
The skin cancer is cut out of the skin, making a wound and leaving a scar.
Image-Guided SRT
Low levels of X-ray energy are used to treat the skin cancer cells, allowing healthy skin to grow back.
Mohs Surgery
The size and depth of the skin cancer is only known after the cutting starts.
Image-Guided SRT
Uses ultrasound imaging to help find, measure, and monitor the treated area over time.
Mohs Surgery
Local anesthesia is used to dull the pain prior to cutting.
Image-Guided SRT
Anesthesia is not needed.
Mohs Surgery
More than 1 surgery during the day may be needed to remove all the skin cancer.
Image-Guided SRT
Eighteen to 25 short treatment sessions (about 10 minutes each) over the course of several weeks.
Mohs Surgery
The surgery leaves wounds, which will need to be cared for by changing bandages, not showering, and not doing normal activities.
Image-Guided SRT
There is no surgical wound, so patients do not need to pause normal daily activities during treatment.
Mohs Surgery
Scarring may need to be fixed with reconstructive surgery.
Image-Guided SRT
No downtime is required during or after treatment with GentleCure IGSRT.
Mohs Surgery
Only 1 skin cancer can be treated at a time.
Image-Guided SRT
More than 1 skin cancer can be treated at a time.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery works 96% to 98% of the time.
Image-Guided SRT
Published research supports a 99%+ cure rate for Image-Guided SRT in the treatment of certain basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.
IGSRT (Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy or Image-Guided SRT) is a type of radiation used just for skin cancer. Ultrasound imaging guides the treatment to kill skin cancer cells using low levels of X-ray energy.
Image-Guided SRT can be used on nonmelanoma skin cancers (i.e., various types of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in-situ) and Keloid conditions.
During each visit, treatment can be completed in as little as 10 minutes.
The number of treatments can vary depending on the tumor size, depth, and complexity of the individual situation. Typically, treatment with GentleCure involves 18 to 25 short treatment sessions (about 10 minutes each) over the course of several weeks.
Mohs surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer. It is unlikely that the skin cancer would return after Mohs. If it does, or if you have a new skin cancer in the same area, you can get treatment with Image-Guided SRT.
Having Image-Guided SRT instead of Mohs would spare you the cutting, bleeding, wound care, and surgical scarring that often come with Mohs. If your cancer returns or you have a new cancer, be sure to talk with your dermatologist about the differences between Image-Guided SRT and Mohs surgery.
Image-Guided SRT cures over 99% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers; it is very rare for a skin cancer to return. However, it is very common for people who have one skin cancer to get another skin cancer. In fact, 40% to 50% of people who have one skin cancer will be diagnosed with another skin cancer within 5 years.
Image-Guided SRT can be used to treat more than one skin cancer at a time. It is very unlikely that a skin cancer would come back in the same spot where you had Image-Guided SRT, but you may get another skin cancer in the same spot. This can happen because of sun exposure or any of the other factors that cause skin cancer. All previous radiation records near the area of new skin cancer will be obtained and examined for safety purposes. If you get another skin cancer in the same area, talk with your dermatologist about all of your treatment options.
Image-Guided SRT has a higher cure rate than Mohs surgery for basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Image-Guided SRT has a 99.5% cure rate for non-melanoma skin cancer, while Mohs surgery has a 98% cure rate. A discussion with your dermatologist will help determine which treatment is best for you.
Clinical research supports the safety and effectiveness (99%+) of surgery-free GentleCure® (Image-Guided SRT) in the treatment of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.
See the difference between Mohs surgery and Image-Guided SRT
Many people do not realize how wound care, healing time, and downtime may factor into their treatment decision. Image-Guided SRT is different because it is a non-surgical treatment option for eligible patients, with no cutting and no surgical wound. These images show examples of final results after Image-Guided SRT treatment.
Image-Guided SRT results
What is important to you in a skin cancer treatment?
Image-Guided SRT may be an option to discuss with your dermatologist if you:
- Fear surgery
- Cannot have surgery because of other health problems
- Have more than one skin cancer that needs to be treated
- Are concerned about surgery, bleeding, pain, downtime, or reconstructive surgery
- Care about how your skin looks after treatment
- Want to see the cancer shrink and know treatment is working
Ask yourself these questions to help think about which treatment may be right for you
Hear how others describe having Image-Guided SRT or Mohs surgery
Everyone Deserves a Surgery-Free Treatment Option
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