Skin cancer has one of the highest 5-year survival rates among all forms of cancer at over 99% when detected and treated in the earliest stages. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with skin cancer, understanding your viable treatment options is key to successful recovery.
At Patel Dermatology and Laser Center in Marina Del Ray, we’re dedicated to providing the latest and greatest in effective skin cancer treatments, including non-surgical options like Superficial Radiation Therapy.
What is Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT)?
Radiation has a long history as an effective treatment for various forms of cancer. However, no two radiation treatments are alike; the skin is susceptible to the potentially damaging effects of radiation, which is why specialized skin cancer radiation therapy is necessary.
Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) is exactly what it sounds like. By using highly targeted, low-grade X-ray radiation energy to destroy cancerous cells, SRT effectively treats various forms of skin cancer while leaving the surrounding flesh unaffected. Unlike traditional SRT, Image-Guided SRT utilizes ultrasound images to target the cancerous area and monitor treatment progress.Â
How Long Does SRT for Skin Cancer Take?
Superficial Radiation Therapy for skin cancer is a non-surgical, painless alternative to Mohs surgery. SRT requires a series of several radiation therapy sessions over a few weeks. Typically SRT patients can expect to undergo 3 to 4 15-minute sessions a week. However, because this cancer radiation therapy is noninvasive, you can get right back to your everyday life and responsibilities with no downtime.
When properly administered, SRT for skin cancer has a 98.7% success rate, comparable to surgical alternatives. And because Superficial Radiation Therapy doesn’t penetrate beyond the skin, there’s no risk of damage to your internal organs.Â
Is SRT Right for Me?
Superficial Radiation Therapy may be an excellent choice for you if:
- You have other pre-existing health conditions that make surgery risky
- You have a history of post-surgery healing complications
- You lead an active life and want to avoid downtime
- You have a non-melanoma form of skin cancer that is localized and hasn’t spread
That said, if you have a prior history of skin cancer, have been diagnosed with melanoma, or the non-melanoma skin cancer is in more advanced stages, image-guided SRT may not be a viable option. In this case, your dermatologist in Marina Del Ray may advise you to consider other options.
Deciding on the best course of treatment after a skin cancer diagnosis can be scary. Knowing what options exist and finding the right one for you takes time and consideration. Dr. Nita Patel, a board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer expert in Marina Del Ray can help walk you through your options and answer any questions so you can make an educated decision.
Don’t let skin cancer stop you in your tracks. Schedule your consultation for non-surgical skin cancer treatment in Marina Del Ray now!
