A skin cancer diagnosis can bring important questions about treatment, especially when patients want to know whether surgery is their only option. GentleCure is a nonsurgical skin cancer treatment that uses Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy, or Image-Guided SRT, to target certain basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas with low-energy X-rays and ultrasound imaging.
At Musick Dermatology & Advanced Clinical Spa in Swansea, IL, Dr. Steven Musick is a board-certified dermatologist with decades of medical and surgical dermatology experience. His background includes residencies in both internal medicine and dermatology, along with continued board certification in dermatology.
For appropriate patients, GentleCure may offer another skin cancer treatment option based on the tumor’s type, size, depth, location, and other medical factors.
How GentleCure Works
GentleCure combines superficial radiation with ultrasound imaging. The imaging allows the treatment team to visualize the cancer beneath the skin, measure its size and depth, and monitor how it responds over the course of treatment.
During treatment, low-energy X-rays are directed at the affected area. Unlike radiation used for cancers deeper inside the body, Image-Guided SRT is designed to treat cancer located within the skin.
What Makes Image Guidance Different?
Traditional superficial radiation therapy does not provide the same ongoing visualization of the tumor. With GentleCure, ultrasound imaging can help guide treatment planning and adjustments as the cancer responds.
Potential advantages include:
- No surgical incision or stitches
- Treatment performed in a dermatology office
- Imaging that tracks tumor size and response
- Little interruption to normal daily activities
- No surgical scar at the treatment site
Treatment is generally delivered across multiple visits rather than completed in a single appointment.
Who May Be a Candidate for GentleCure?
GentleCure is primarily used for certain basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is not automatically appropriate for every diagnosis. A dermatologist will evaluate several factors before recommending this type of skin cancer treatment, including:
- The type and subtype of skin cancer
- The size and depth of the tumor
- The location of the cancer
- Whether the area has been treated previously
- The patient’s overall health and medical history
- Whether surgery may be difficult or less desirable in that location
Other treatments, including excision or Mohs surgery, may still be preferred depending on the cancer’s specific characteristics. A dermatologic evaluation helps determine which approach best balances effectiveness, safety, and treatment goals.
Explore GentleCure Skin Cancer Treatment in Swansea, IL
Patients diagnosed with basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma may have more than one treatment option available. An evaluation can help determine whether GentleCure fits the specific characteristics of the skin cancer and how it compares with surgical treatment.
To learn more about GentleCure and skin cancer treatment at Musick Dermatology & Advanced Clinical Spa in Swansea, IL, call 618-628-2588 to schedule a consultation.