Erin Wheeler has always known that it was at high risk of skin cancer.
A kidney transplant, combined with clear skin from its Irish heritage, put skin cancer on its radar at the age of 10.
A few decades later, Wheeler, a senior career consultant at the University of Pittsburgh, is almost registered for MOHS surgery to the UPMC St. Margaret dermatology in Harmar.
“The first time I had Mohs, five years ago on my face,” said Wheeler, 45, from the North Oakland section of Pittsburgh. “I was nervous, of course.
“But I can’t talk enough about the procedure, as far as someone can take advantage of something like that.”
Mohs surgery, named Dr. Frederic Mohs, who developed the specialized procedure in the 1930s, eliminates the thinnest layers of skin by one as a means of saving healthy tissues.
Surgeons analyze layers in the office – the same day – until there is no sign of cancer.
Mohs’ demand has increased in recent years across the country, partly due to the increase in skin cancer incidents – the diagnosis of non -melanoma skin cancer in the United States increased by 77% between 1994 and 2014.
But people are also looking for its success.
The MOHS is the most effective current treatment for skin cancer, which is diagnosed in more than 9,500 people a day, according to the skin cancer Foundation.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than a million MOHS procedures in the United States ago, which has increased by 10% in the last decade.
The demand prompted the Dermatology Department of the UPMC ST. Margaret to double its surgery space earlier this spring.
The $ 150,000 project has enabled three new procedural rooms, for a total of six, and two new surgical hires, said Kevin Macdonald, vice-president of operations.
Macdonald said that skin cancer incidents are increasing due to longer life expectancy, greater exposure to the sun and better detection.
“Mohs surgery is a treatment that minimizes scars, as patients can testify,” said Macdonald.
It also has up to 99% success rates because tumors are eliminated with acute precision while saving as much healthy skin as possible, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Transplanted patients, like Wheeler, are at high risk of skin cancer due to immunosuppressive drugs. Patients transplanted with organs are 100 times more likely than the general public to develop epidermoid carcinoma, according to data from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
DRE Melissa Pugliano-Mauro, Director of UPMC dermatological surgery, said the ministry provides specialized care for solid organ transplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients.
When Pugliano-Mauro found a suspicious place over Wheeler’s right eyebrow, Mohs was the obvious choice.
“It is less invasive, layer on a layer and does not leave a lot of scar if necessary,” said Wheeler. “I said to myself:” Register me “.”
Wheeler said the injury healed beautifully and that there is no lasting sign of surgery on his forehead.
Since then, she has had additional MOHS procedures, including a place on the top of the chest in recent weeks. She was surgical scheduled for this summer.
“I’m talking to many people about Mohs’ advantage,” said Wheeler.
“The key is that they take less fabric. When it’s not Mohs, it’s like a melon scoop.”
Tawnya Panzzi is a tribute journalist. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached in tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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