Superficial Radiation Therapy
Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy is a nonsurgical treatment that uses low levels of X-ray energy to kill cancer cells and allow normal tissue to grow back in its place. For many people dealing with skin cancer, Image-Guided SRT can be a highly effective treatment option without the downtime, side effects, and cosmetic issues sometimes associated with surgery.
We are proud to offer Image-Guided SRT right in the comfort of our office. If you’ve been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or some other form of non-melanoma skin cancer and have been told youneed Mohs surgery, call us today to schedule an appointment to see if you’re a candidate for a less invasive alternative.
Schedule a ConsultationAm I radioactive, and is my treatment dangerous to myself or others?
No, you are not radioactive and your treatment is very safe.
Does the treatment penetrate bone?
No, the treatment only penetrates a few millimeters into the patient's tissue and has little effect on normal surrounding tissue.
How long will I be in the office each day for treatment?
Treatments generally take about 10-15 minutes total. (Simulation on the first day takes 30-45 minutes.)
How many treatments does it take?
It takes about 20 total treatments, averaging 3 treatments a week, to complete therapy.
With Image-Guided SRT, you will sit in a chair and a gel will be applied at the site of the cancer. Using an imaging wand, we can look at a detailed image of the cancer on screen. We will use that image to measure the size and shape of the tumor, calculate the dose of treatment, and define the treatment area. Once complete, the arm of the device will be placed over the treatment site and the exact dose of x-ray energy will be used to precisely target the cancer site without harming the healthy tissue around it. Each treatment session takes about 15 minutes from the time you walk in the door to when you leave the office. You’ll come back several times a week for a short treatment session, and in 4 to 7 weeks treatment will be complete. The most recent large-scale study on Image Guided SRT shows a cure rate of greater than 99%, which is equal to or better than the treatment rate experienced with Mohs surgery. Ongoing patient surveys show that 99.9% of patients were happy with their decision to treat with Image-Guided SRT and 99.8% would recommend the treatment option to others.
With Image-Guided SRT:
- You’re typically in and out of the dermatologist’s office in 15 minutes or less
- No cutting, no bleeding, no stitches, no surgical scars
- No need for reconstruction surgery
- Quick recovery time
- Reduced risk for infection
- Reduced risk for short-or long-term nerve damage
- No anesthesia usage
- No post-surgery downtime or discomfort
There are several different radiation-based technologies for the treatment of skin cancer. Cure rates and cosmetic outcomes vary based on the technology and protocol. We use only Image-Guided SRT because both the cure rate and cosmetic results are superior to all other radiation-based options. If you’re considering radiation therapy, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting Image-Guided SRT with an adaptive radiotherapy protocol. It’s the gentler way to treat skin cancer. More information about this therapy is available at Gentlecure.com
Over the past five years, more than40,000 people have chosen to have their skincancer treated with Image-Guided SRT. More than 6,500 of those have responded to a patient satisfaction survey and more than 99.8% have said that they were both happy with their choice to treat with Image-Guided SRT and would recommend the treatment option to others. Videos of patients talking about their experience with Image-Guided SRT can be found at GentleCure Patient Stories.
With most insurance plans, you may have to pay some out-of-pocket cost. The cost is dependent on your specific health plan coverage and deductible policy. The amount can range from very little out-of-pocket expense to a few thousand dollars. We will work with your insurance plan to find out the cost to you before you commit to any specific treatment option, including Image-Guided SRT.
When x-ray therapy is used to kill cancer cells, over time your body will replace dead cancer cells with healthy tissue, so there is no surgical scarring and no need for reconstructive surgery. There is, however, a small risk of skin atrophy (thinning of the skin) and pigment changes (changes in the color of the skin) at the treatment site.
Other potential side effects may include skin inflammation with redness and swelling at the treatment site. Topical creams or ointments can be used throughout the course of treatment to minimize these side effects and, 2 to 6 weeks after treatment is complete, these side effects often go away. There is alsoa risk of alopecia (hair loss) in the area of the body that has been treated.
There is a less than 5% chance of developing a secondary skin cancer 20 to 40 years after treatment.
