(NewsUSA)
- President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Melanie Griffith, Richard Simmons and Caitlyn Jenner have all had nonmelanoma skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States. More than 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed with this disease every year, and most undergo Mohs surgery, which can be painful and disfiguring. Seattle-area resident Cheryl Cayford was happy to find an FDA-cleared device providing a nonsurgical cure.
“I’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer twice before and treated successfully with Mohs surgery, so I am certainly familiar with that procedure,” she says. “When my doctor subsequently told me a sore on my nose was malignant, thoughts of those surgeries with the accompanying discomfort and scarring came flooding back. There was a real bit of panic as well. Surgery on my nose with plastic surgery to follow seemed way more daunting than the previous surgeries on my shoulder and arm.”
But this time, her dermatologist told her there was a noninvasive option that delivers the same 99%-plus cure rate as Mohs surgery, with no pain, surgical scarring or need for reconstructive surgery. Cheryl chose that alternative, called image-guided SRT or the GentleCure Experience. It involves the use of low-level x-rays precisely targeted with the aid of high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Cheryl sat for a series of 15-minute treatment sessions in her dermatologist’s office over the course of six weeks.
“I was in and out in minutes,” she says, “and during each visit my provider showed me ultrasound images of the cancer cells shrinking away. Today, I’m cancer-free with no visible signs of having had any medical procedure at all.”
For Cheryl, GentleCure had additional meaning. “I have two daughters and I think their noses are adorable,” Cheryl notes with a laugh. “Thanks to my dermatologist, mine still is as well.”
Jacob Scott, MD, president and chairman of Dermatology Association of Radiation Therapy, noted, “The sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are a leading cause of nonmelanoma skin cancer, and the cellular damage is cumulative over time. That explains why we see more of this type of cancer in seniors. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, but there are other factors that put some of us at higher risk, such as having fair skin, red or blond hair, or green, blue or gray eyes. For those who fear surgery or who are, due to medical conditions, poor candidates for Mohs surgery, image-guided SRT can be a life-changing alternative.”
Image-guided SRT, the essence of the GentleCure Experience, is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans. It is available in select dermatology practices around the country. Information about the treatment is available at www.gentlecure.com.
