WORCESTER, Mass. - A new, non-surgical way to treat skin cancer is now available in Massachusetts. Image-guided SRT is the only treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer using ultrasound imaging to kill cancer cells.
It directs low level x-ray energy to targeted areas of the skin. The treatment is now offered at Commonwealth Dermatology in Worcester. Experts said about 8,000 people in Worcester county will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year and this treatment helps more people who are impacted.
"This is less invasive," said Dr. Sabrina Waqar, founder of Commonwealth Dermatology. "I think that is why it is so popular. You can see a patient and not even see the area being treated. I think that, compared to invasive surgery to reconstruct the area, there is no disruption in treatment, versus if they had to go through a surgery during a holiday time, it takes some time."
A study published in the journal "Oncology and Therapy" showed this treatment to have a 99.3% cure rate.