If you have been recently diagnosed with skin cancer or suspect that you might be developing skin cancer, Dermatology Clinic of North Mississippi offers GentleCure™ as an effective, non-surgical treatment option. GentleCure™ is an Image-Guided SRT procedure that has quickly become the gold standard treatment for skin cancer. We are proud to offer this treatment to patients living in Southaven and the surrounding areas of Mississippi.
What is GentleCure™?
GentleCure™ is a gentle, surgery-free treatment that is safe and boasts a 99%+ cure rate in basal and squamous cell skin cancers. All GentleCure™ treatments are conveniently performed in our dermatology office over the course of a few weeks. The treatment uses an advanced Image-Guided SRT machine, which also utilizes ultrasound imaging to allow both patients and providers to see skin cancer treatment progress in real-time. Treatment continues until there are no visible signs of skin cancer in the ultrasound imaging.
How Does GentleCure™ Work?
GentleCure™ uses an Image-Guided SRT machine to treat skin cancer without surgery, avoiding the discomfort and cosmetic issues that are often associated with invasive skin cancer treatments. With GentleCure™, there is no cutting, scarring, or need for reconstructive surgery. It uses ultrasound imaging to detect the exact location of the skin cancer, then applies precise X-ray energy to safely destroy cancer cells while preventing damage to the nearby areas. Patients are able to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the treatment process.
What are the Benefits of GentleCure™?
GentleCure™ offers numerous benefits:
- No Surgery: Avoid the discomfort and scarring associated with surgical procedures.
- High Cure Rate: Enjoy a 99%+ cure rate for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
- Quick Sessions: Each treatment session takes only about 15 minutes.
- Minimal Side Effects: GentleCure™ has fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments.
What is the GentleCure™ Treatment Like?
During each GentleCure™ treatment, you’ll sit comfortably as an ultrasound gel is applied to the site of the cancer. We’ll use an imaging wand to generate a detailed image of the skin cancer on a screen. This allows patients to see the size and shape of the skin cancer in real-time. It also allows us to measure the size and shape of the tumor so that we can develop a precise treatment plan and define the exact treatment area. After the imaging process, we will apply the optimal dose of X-ray energy to the skin cancer site. This prevents any damage to the healthy tissue around it, targeting only the cancerous cells. In all, this process takes about 15 minutes. For most patients, the treatment process requires multiple visits a week for 4 to 7 weeks.
Are There Any Side Effects After GentleCure™ Treatments?
GentleCure™ is a preferred skin cancer treatment because there is no surgical scarring and no need for reconstructive surgery. However, there is a small risk of some side effects that may occur during treatment:
- Skin atrophy (thinning of the skin)
- Pigment changes (changes in the color of the skin)
- Inflammation, redness and swelling
- Alopecia (hair loss)
Fortunately, topical creams or ointments can be used over the course of treatment to minimize these side effects, which usually go away 2-to 6-weeks after treatment is complete.
What are the Results from GentleCure™ Treatment?
In the 7 years that patients have been receiving GentleCure™ (Image-Guided SRT), there have been no reported cases of secondary skin cancers occurring as a result of treatment. While each treatment will vary based on the location and depth of skin cancer, below you can see an example treatment performed on a typical patient.
Before Treatment
This patient has basal cell skin cancer on the top of the ear. The cancer is visible on the skin, and the ultrasound image clearly defines the depth, width, and breadth of the cancer.
During Treatment
About halfway through the GentleCure™ treatment protocol, the cancer will begin reducing in size on the outside of the skin. This is also shown in the ultrasound image, where the size of the cancer in the skin has visibly decreased.
After Treatment
Two weeks after the treatment is completed, this patient shows no signs of cancer. After 30 weeks, the ultrasound image shows that GentleCure™ fully eliminated the cancer.
Why Choose GentleCure™ at Dermatology Clinic of North Mississippi?
We prefer GentleCure™ (Image-Guided SRT) because it is the only skin cancer treatment with advanced imaging that lets us see and measure the cancer and adapt the dose to precisely what you need at each stage of treatment. It has also been shown to be the safest and most effective of all radiation-based treatments for skin cancer with superior cosmetic results, backed by science and clinical research.
- In 2021, chart reviews were conducted for 1632 patients who had Image-Guided SRT to treat one or more early-stage basal or squamous cell skin cancers. Of those patients, 2917 skin cancers in total were treated. The results showed a 3% cure rate with Image-Guided SRT, which we believe to be equal to or better than Mohs surgery.
- In 2022 and 2023, additional studies were published that showed the efficacy and safety of Image-Guided SRT to be superior to non-image-guided forms of radiation therapy across skin cancer types—confirming its use as a first-line treatment for basal and squamous cell skin cancers. This means doctors and patients should give equal consideration to Mohs surgery and surgery-free Image-Guided SRT as standards of care.
Is GentleCure™ Covered by Insurance?
GentleCure™ (Image-Guided SRT) is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans. However, it’s important to note that many insurance plans will require you to pay some out-of-pocket cost. The exact cost will depend on your health plan coverage and its co-pay policy. Before beginning GentleCure™ or any other skin cancer treatment, we will work with you and your insurance plan to determine the exact costs associated with your treatment. This ensures you are able to make an informed treatment decision.
If you are considering radiation therapy to treat your skin cancer, make sure you are getting GentleCure™ (Image-Guided SRT) with adaptive radiotherapy protocols. It’s the safe, effective, and gentle way to treat skin cancer using the most advanced treatment technology available today. Contact the Dermatology Clinic of North Mississippi to schedule your consultation. We are proud to offer this non-surgical, gold-standard treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancer to patients in Southaven, MS, and surrounding areas.
This was the absolute best doctor visit I have ever been to from start to finish. Very polite and professional staff. I was in and out of the appointment in less than an hour. Amazing!
Always excellent service and everyone is so friendly and nice. And I love going to Misty, she always explains things to me and makes you fell special. That means a lot to a just slightly senior person, ha.
She was able to answer all my questions. The money seemed reasonable, which I’ll pay out of my HRA since I haven’t met my deductible this year, and they explained there would also be a lab fee for the biopsy; if they hadn’t explained that lab fee to me beforehand, I think that bill would have confused me. Good job, everybody!