This was the question asked by a medical student witnessing her first skin cancer surgery on a frail old lady.
It was the right question.
Should we be cutting if there is a non-surgical alternative?
XRT is an effective non-invasive treatment for skin cancer.
There is no cutting, pain, downtime, or tissue loss.
Despite the availability of non-surgical options like XRT, many elderly patients still undergo surgery for skin cancer.
This often stems from a lack of awareness among both patients and healthcare providers about alternative treatment.
Surgical procedures can be particularly challenging for older adults due to factors such as frailty, comorbidities, and the potential for complications.
In contrast, XRT offers a safer, equally effective alternative that aligns with the unique needs of the elderly population.
XRT is the use of low-energy X-ray therapy to treat non-melanoma skin cancer.
The process is simple: a 30-minute consultation with a specialist, then between 5-15 X-Ray treatments, 1-2 times per week, depending on individual factors.
The medical student’s question is to the point- the frail old lady does not need to be cut.
