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Introducing Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT). The Surgery-Free Cure for Skin Cancer.
For years, Mohs surgery was the standard treatment for skin cancer. Now, people with basal or squamous cell skin cancers have an option: Image-Guided SRT—the treatment that cures skin cancer without surgery.
Our GentleCure SRT is performed in our office by a Radiation Therapist. With a 99% cure rate and patient satisfaction, SRT is the safe and effective gold standard for treating non-melanoma skin cancer without surgery. No cutting, pain, or recovery.
Most cancer-killing radiation machines are big and hard to target precisely. This can damage healthy cells around the cancer and can often cause side effects.
Our GentleCure Image-Guided SRT is used just for skin cancer. It kills cells using low levels of X-ray energy – about the same amount as a dentist uses to x-ray teeth.
What’s more, GentleCure is the first and only radiation treatment for skin cancer that uses ultrasound images. The ultrasound lets us see the exact size of the cancer so we can target the area with the precise dose. These images also show the cancer shrinking after each treatment.
At each session, you will sit in a chair and ultrasound gel will be applied to the site of the cancer. Using an imaging wand, we will look at a detailed image of your cancer. We will use that image to measure the size and shape of the tumor, and calculate the right amount of treatment.
Once the imaging is complete, the arm of the device will be placed over the treatment area and the exact dose of X-ray energy will be used to treat 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 will come back several times a week for short treatment sessions, and in 4-to-7 weeks, treatment will be complete.
No two cases of skin cancer are the same, so treatment results may vary from patient to patient. But the pictures below are typical of the results seen by patients who have received GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT).
BEFORE TREATMENT: Patient with basal cell skin cancer on the top of the ear before treatment with GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT). You can see the cancer on the skin. The ultrasound image clearly defines the skin cancer under the skin, indicating the full depth, width, and breadth of the cancer.
DURING TREATMENT: About half way through treatment with GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT), you can see the cancer reducing in size on the outside of the skin. The ultrasound image shows that the cancer under the skin has also been reduced.
AFTER TREATMENT: At the two-week follow-up visit after treatment was completed, the outside of the ear shows no signs of cancer. The ultrasound image shows that GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) continued to eliminate the cancer. At the 30-week follow-up appointment, the ultrasound image showed no signs of cancer.
With most insurance plans, you may have to pay some out-of-pocket cost. That cost will depend on your specific health plan coverage and co-pay policy. Before you commit to a treatment option, we will work with your insurance plan to determine the potential cost to you, so you can make an informed treatment decision. If you are worried about affording treatment, let us know and we can discuss our financial assistance options.
When X-ray energy is used to kill cancer cells, your body will replace the dead cancer cells with healthy tissue over time. 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 over the course of treatment to minimize these side effects, and the side effects usually go away 2-to 6-weeks after treatment is complete. There is also a risk of alopecia (hair loss) in the treated area only. In the 7 years that patients have been receiving GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT), there have been NO reported cases of secondary skin cancers occuring as a result of treatment.
