Dr. Brooks specializes in the treatment of skin cancer and melanoma.
Dr. Brooks' Encino Skin Cancer Medical Center is designed for patients who have sun damage, skin cancer, and melanoma. In addition to the treatment of common skin cancer, the Center also provides comprehensive screening, risk assessment, and follow-up services to individuals who are at high-risk for melanoma because they have unusually large, or increased number of moles.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Micrographic surgery lets Dr. Brooks remove skin cancer with the best cosmetic results possible. Using a high-powered microscope, skin cancer roots are traced while leaving normal tissue intact.
Because incisions do not have to go as deep into the skin's surface as with other surgical procedures, cosmetic results are improved.
Micrographic surgery is an office procedure performed under local anesthesia. It is especially beneficial for treating skin cancers located in sensitive areas such as the eyelids, lips, nose and ears.
For the treatment of melanoma, a zinc chloride melanoma vaccine is utilized prior to surgery. This treatment reduces surgical margins and increases body resistance against spread of the melanoma.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a potentially fatal cancerous mole. It usually begins as a flat or raised multicolored, pigmented growth that may enlarge and turn black or dark brown. Melanomas often have no symptoms, but may ooze, become scaly, bleed, itch, or feel sore. Melanoma almost always originates on the skin's surface, but may rapidly penetrate to deeper layers and spread to lymph nodes, lungs, liver, brain, or bones.
Early detection and prevention reinforce the importance of a regular self skin examination and a comprehensive sun-protection program.
Basal
and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancer. They are mainly caused by chronic exposure to sunlight, and
are highly
curable. They
may
present as a pink or skin colored growth that does not heal, and may scale,
scab, and crust.
Both
types of skin cancer may bleed intermittently or form an open sore.
Mohs micrographic surgery is the ideal method of treatment because it
saves the greatest amount of healthy tissue and has the highest cure rate of all
procedures.
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