Staying on top of your skin is always an important part of overall wellness and health. It’s no secret that we are here to remind you of the importance of staying up-to-date on your annual skin check and to regularly examine your own skin with self-checks at home for suspicious moles. But what happens when you do discover a questionable mole and find out that it is indeed skin cancer? Here at Paradise Valley, we offer several treatment options, one of them being Brachytherapy.
What is Brachytherapy anyways?
It’s a form of radiotherapy where a sealed radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. The technology is unique because it uses a miniaturized x-ray source that can be turned on or off, instead of the traditional radioactive seeds that are always emitting radiation. This means that the shielding requirements are very minimal, and your radiation therapy team is able to remain in the treatment room with you. Because it is a short procedure with minimal side effects, Skin eBx is an ideal skin cancer treatment alternative for patients not interested in surgery.
How long does Brachytherapy take?
Treatment requires just a few brief visits to your dermatologist and is administered in four simple steps.
- A clinician will prepare a customized set-up designed to target the lesion while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.
- A small surface applicator is placed on the skin where the radiation is to be delivered.
- The miniaturized x-ray source is placed in the applicator and energized to deliver a precise, prescribed dose of radiation
- Radiation is delivered in just a few minutes in a standard exam room while medical personnel remain in the room.
What will my dermatologist do to my skin?
Your dermatologist will use a miniaturized x-ray source to deliver a precise radiation dose to your cancer lesion. This targeted treatment directs the radiation to the size and shape of the cancerous area, carefully destroying cancer cells and sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
What are the benefits?
Skin eBx provides an effective and convenient alternative to surgery, allowing patients to return to normal activities immediately with no downtime. Its also a painless procedure the does not require anesthesia, cutting, bleeding, or stitching, and leaves no scarring. The treatment sessions are quick and there is no need for post-treatment reconstructive surgeries.
Who’s a Candidate for Skin eBx?
Not everyone is a candidate for eBx, so it’s important to discuss your options with your dermatologist to determine the best course of treatment for you. Skin eBX is ideal for patients with lesions in anatomically challenging locations, such as the face, scalp, nose, ears, arms, and legs, as well as areas prone to difficulties in wound healing. It can also be a preferred option for those who have high-risk lesions or are not surgical candidates due to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or are on blood thinning medication. .
Brachytherapy is very safe and effective, and we’re proud to have some of the most world-renowned board-certified dermatologists on our team to help fight cancer. If you have any questions that weren’t answered above, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to talk.
