Samaritan Launches Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
Published on: July 8, 2020
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Dermatology is pleased to announce that it now offers Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. It is the only location in Jefferson County to provide this service.
A Mohs surgery is typically performed while the patient is awake and uses local anesthesia to numb the tumor and surrounding skin. During the procedure, all visible parts of the tumor are removed, sent to an on-site laboratory, and sliced into thin sections for careful analysis. Using a microscope, the Mohs surgeon looks for cancer cells on the edges of the removed skin sections. If cancer cells are found near any edges, additional skin is removed and analyzed until no cancerous cells remain.
This process allows the Mohs surgeon to remove as little healthy tissue as possible, helping the patient heal faster while resting assured that all cancer cells have been removed. Depending on the skin cancer and its location, Mohs surgery offers the highest tumor clearance rate and the smallest incisions for patients. Many studies put the success rate for Mohs surgery as high as 99 percent.
“We are very excited to bring Mohs micrographic surgery to Jefferson County for the first time,” said Dr. Nathanial R. Miletta, Dermatologist and Chief of Mohs Surgery at Samaritan. “Rather than driving an hour or more for this service, patients can receive it right here in Watertown from our compassionate, highly-trained professionals.”
Samaritan Dermatology is located on the first floor of Samaritan’s Medical Office Building, 826 Washington St. It comprises three board-certified dermatologists – Dr. Casey M. Chern, Dr. Nathanial R. Miletta, and Dr. Zachary P. Nahmias – as well as dermatology physician assistants Erin Bryant and Amy Werchinski. Mohs surgeries will be performed by Dr. Miletta and Dr. Nahmias.
For more information about Samaritan Dermatology or Mohs surgery, or to schedule an appointment, call 315-755-3670 or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/dermatology.