SRT for Skin Cancer: What to Expect

Each day, doctors diagnose more than 9,500 cases of skin cancer in the United States alone. Dr. Jeffrey A. Klein and our knowledgeable practitioners at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California utilize state-of-the-art technologies, such as superficial radiation therapy (SRT), to treat basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), two of the most common skin cancers.

95% cure rates

Dr. Klein and our team utilize the SRT-100TM to deliver pain-free, low-dose superficial radiation therapy, which offers:

1. A great alternative to surgery for removing skin cancer
2. 95% cure rates
3. Stitch-free results

Since the radiation only targets your skin’s surface, SRT minimizes scarring and deep tissue damage. It also eliminates the need for painful reconstructive surgery. It works especially well on more prominent areas, such as the nose, lips, and eyelids. SRT also offers a viable option for patients who don’t heal or tolerate anesthesia well. Those with compromised immune systems or using blood thinners may also fare better with SRT than surgery. SRT can only be used on non-melanoma skin cancers.

What to expect

Dr. Klein or Dr. Kassardjian reviews your medical history and diagnosis to ensure you’re a good candidate for SRT. If so, he performs pain-free SRT right in our office as follows:

1. You lie down or sit upright in a chair, depending upon the location of the skin cancer
2. The doctor targets the cancer with the machine, which emits low-level radiation
3. Treatment takes just a few minutes
4. The area may feel warm during the procedure

It’s as simple as that. You might require more than one SRT session and may experience minimal side effects, such as dryness, itching, and/or redness in the treated area.

How SRT works

The SRT-100, which emits low-energy radiotherapy, penetrates the targeted areas just below your skin’s surface. This minimal radiation combats cancer as it:

• Alters each cancer cell’s DNA
• Lessens the cell’s ability to reproduce
• Hastens cell death within a cancerous tumor

What SRT does

Our team uses superficial radiation therapy to destroy:

• Squamous cell carcinoma, which affects the cells just below the skin’s surface
• Basal cell carcinoma, which lies below squamous cells
• Non-malignant tumor cells that result in keloids, which may increase your risk of future cancers

What SRT doesn’t do

SRT doesn’t involve:

1. Bleeding
2. Stitching
3. Cutting
4. Reconstruction

You’ll also heal more quickly as compared to traditional skin cancer surgery, with minimal downtime. 

SRT is safe and effective 

According to a study noted in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, radiation therapy, such as SRT, provides an excellent defense against basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. SRT has offered a solution to skin cancer for more than 100 years. Technological advances, including the SRT-100, have brought about a resurgence in superficial radiation therapy’s popularity.

SRT versus Mohs surgery

The former “gold standard” of skin cancer surgery, Mohs surgery offers a slightly higher success rate than SRT (98% for Mohs versus 95% for SRT). However, Mohs is also more invasive and less cosmetically pleasing than SRT, which requires no cutting or stitches. 

Dr. Klein or Dr. Kassardjian discusses all your options to decide the best course of action. If you suspect skin cancer or notice any unusual changes to your skin, contact Dr. Klein and HK Dermatology promptly. Call us at 949-248-1632, or book an appointment online. We also handle a wide range of other dermatological and cosmetic issues.