What is Laser/Radio-frequency (RF) - Skin Cancer Surgery ?
A NON SURGICAL METHOD of treating lesser Invasive skin cancers.
Laser/RF is a technology that has been used in medical and non medical industries over decades.
It denotes precision and accuracy.
In the medical field, these are used to create a Burn (medically referred to as Ablation).
Unlike other type of ablation (cryotherapy or diathermy), this method gives the doctor the fine control of the ablation, hence allowing accurate and precisely controlled ablation of the skin cancer.
Some scarring is inevitable as the end result of ablation. However, the resulting scar is usually superior to surgical excision and patient satisfaction is high.
Does it work ?
It is a documented treatment modality for the treatment of lesser aggressive skin cancers.
This treatment modality only applies to lesser aggressive skin cancers.
More aggressive cancers such as invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Infiltrating Basal Cell Carcinomas, and Malignant Melanomas are best managed by surgical excision.
These aggressive cancers, if you haven’t got it all in the first instance, can lead to fatality.
So less invasive treatments are NOT an option.
Best option is to surgically excise and attempt to produce a fine scar and a cosmetically satisfying end result.
It is a very popular and satisfying treatment for:
Cosmetically sensitive areas – face, nose, ear.
Surgically difficult areas – face, nose, ear, hand, foot.
Technically difficult areas – due to paucity of skin, areas such as hands and feet may require surgeries that involves flap or graft repair. With Laser/RF surgery, these complex procedures may be able to be avoided.
Patients who doesn’t want any downtime (resume normal activity immediately).
Avoid potential surgical complications – such as wound infection, wound breaking down, bad scarring and taking time off work.
Like all other type of skin cancer treatments (including surgical excision), the cure rate is NOT 100%. Even in a case of skin cancer excision where the pathologist confirmed “cancer excision appears complete”, there is 3-5% chance that THAT cancer will return. So it is imperative that the treated site is FOLLOWED UP.
So what happens at the time of Laser/RF surgery?
Essential criteria for Laser/RF Surgery are:
Biopsy proven
Favorable skin cancer
Patient understands its benefit and risk
Patient is willing to be followed up with another biopsy in 6 weeks
There is a fee
The Procedure
Takes approximately 10 minutes and it is non surgical.
Skin cancer and appropriate skin is marked
Local anesthetic injection
Kim Surgery performed – to clear and accurately delineate skin cancer and its margin.
Skin cancer ablated using Laser/RF
Wound is covered with a band-aid or dressing
Aftercare
Apply moisturizer/antibiotic ointment regularly to facilitate wound healing
Keep the area covered when going outside but can leave it exposed at home
Avoid direct sunlight exposure by covering up during the healing process and by applying sunblock afterwards for few weeks.
Can get wet and have shower immediately
Initially the treated area will become a scab. Scab takes about 1 week to fall off and be fully healed.
Treatment area will remain fresh pinkish colour (just like a burnt skin) for few weeks before taking up the normal skin colour.
The resulting area may become slightly lighter or slightly darker than the surrounding skin, but this is usually minimal.
Follow up at 6 weeks – usually patients are very satisfied at this point. At 6 weeks, the treated skin region is RE-BIOPSIED. This is important in defining the success of the treatment.
