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Superficial Radiation Therapy
Southern Illinois Dermatology offers Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) using the industry-leading technology of GentleCure’s Image-Guided SRT. GentleCure is widely regarded as the gold-standard approach for skin cancer treatment. If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, our Southern Illinois team will walk you through the process of reviewing your diagnosis, discussing your goals for treatment, and determining if GentleCure is right for you.
Surgery-Free Skin Cancer Treatment
This surgery-free industry-leading procedure is extremely safe with a +99% success rate for treating basal and squamous cell cancers. This minimally invasive approach can be done over multiple weeks right in our dermatology office using the Image-Guided SRT machine. This state-of-the-art technology is the only cancer treatment of its kind, with real-time ultrasound imaging that allows us to view the cancer and monitor progress throughout the treatment. Using the GentleCure SRT approach, you can receive highly targeted, minimally invasive treatment and can literally see its effectiveness as it eliminates all visible signs of cancer.
What to Expect During Your GentleCure Treatment
As mentioned, using GentleCure’s Image-Guided SRT is a nonsurgical approach to effectively treating skin cancer. That means you avoid the discomfort (e.g., cutting, surrounding tissue damage, etc.) and possible follow-up care (e.g. reconstructive surgery, scarring, etc.) associated with skin cancer surgery options.
- During the procedure, the Radiation Therapist will first use the Image-Guided SRT machine to thoroughly visualize the cancer site as you rest comfortably in the chair. This imaging process allows us to expertly dose and target the treatment to your specific needs.
- Next, the treating arm of the SRT machine will be moved over the skin cancer treatment area and will be used to deliver the exact amount of X-ray energy needed. Using this tool, we can precisely treat your cancerous tissue while protecting the surrounding healthy tissues from unnecessary damage. This process will last approximately 15 minutes in total.
- Based on your unique case, we will ask you to return for multiple short sessions per week over the next 6-7 weeks to comprehensively treat your skin cancer. Before getting started, our Southern Illinois dermatological team will discuss the recommended number of treatment sessions with you.
While this is an incredibly safe and surgery-free treatment, as with any medical procedure, there are some potential side effects. The most common side effects are usually mild to moderate irritation, redness, thinning, or breakdown of the skin that was treated. Immediately after the procedure, you may experience some inflammation or swelling at the treatment site that will typically subside in the next 2 to 6 weeks following treatment. During your treatment process and recovery, we will offer topical creams, ointments or medications that can be used to minimize or avoid these potential side effects. Please ask our team about any specific questions or concerns you may have regarding the GentleCure SRT approach.
The Data Behind GentleCure’s SRT Technology
In addition to this cutting-edge technology, GentleCure has a proven track record of scientifically backed results and strong patient satisfaction.
- Out of 12,000 patients surveyed, 99.9% of people reported feeling happy with their results and would recommend this treatment to others.
- In a study reviewing nearly 3,000 skin cancers treated, a 99.3% cure rate was observed. This outcome is equal to or greater than commonly used surgical treatment options.
- When compared to other radiation therapy approaches, GentleCure’s image-guided technology was proven to be superior across skin cancer types.
This data and patient satisfaction reports further support GentleCure’s spot as the first-line, gold-standard treatment option for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
The Benefits of Choosing Gentle Cure
Southern Illinois Dermatology offers GentleCure Image-Guided SRT because we truly believe it helps us provide excellent, comprehensive care to our patients. Its ultrasound technology is the only one of its kind that allows us to visualize the treatment area, accurately dose the treatment, and precisely target the cancerous tissue. As the safest and most effective radiation-based treatment, you can successfully treat your skin cancer while avoiding the complications and discomfort of surgery and seeing excellent cosmetic results.
Additionally, GentleCure’s image-guided SRT is covered by most insurances, including Medicare. While some co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses may be required, being widely accepted by insurance makes this a highly accessible and affordable treatment option for many of our patients. We will perform a verification of benefits with your insurance prior to scheduling your procedure. Our Southern Illinois Dermatology team is happy to discuss your payment and billing questions as you consider this treatment option.
When choosing a skin cancer treatment approach, safety and effectiveness are the top priority. With GentleCure’s Image-Guided SRT procedure, you can have safety and effectiveness while also maximizing your comfort, cosmetic results, and convenience with skin cancer treatment.