Radiotherapy or Mohs?
Are you weighing up radiotherapy vs Mohs surgery for skin cancer treatment? Do you wonder what the side effects of skin cancer radiotherapy actually look like and how long recovery takes? This video answers these common questions with real patient examples.
Many patients worry about how severe radiotherapy side effects can become, especially for visible areas like the face or nose. I share two real cases of basal cell carcinoma treatment where patients chose radiotherapy instead of surgery.
The first patient had a basal cell carcinoma spanning her entire nasal tip—a location where surgery would have caused significant disfigurement with substantial tissue and cartilage loss. After completing ten fractions of radiotherapy over two weeks, she developed what medical professionals call a “brisk reaction”—visible redness, scabbing, some bleeding, and uncomfortable nasal congestion from inflammation.
How to manage the early side effects of radiotherapy
To manage these temporary side effects, I prescribed:
- Flaminal gel to keep the area moist and prevent infection
- Steroid nasal spray to reduce congestion
- Specialised non-adhesive dressings for nighttime protection
The remarkable improvement after just three weeks shows how these initially concerning side effects resolve with proper care—something many patients researching radiotherapy worry about.
The second patient’s complete treatment journey illustrates the typical healing timeline for nose radiotherapy treatment. She developed a drier reaction with redness and scabbing that gradually shed over 2-3 weeks, revealing healthy skin underneath. Four weeks after treatment ended, her nose completely healed with no visible cancer or ongoing skin reaction.
If you currently experience radiotherapy side effects for skin cancer and wonder if they’re normal or permanent, rest assured that improvement typically occurs. The vast majority of my patients express extreme satisfaction with their cosmetic outcomes following radiotherapy treatment, avoid surgical scars while achieving excellent cure rates.
Making a decision about radiotherapy for skin cancer
Ultimately, for an informed decision between basal cell carcinoma treatment options, I strongly recommend consulting with specialists who offer radiotherapy and those who perform Mohs surgery. By doing so, you can thoroughly evaluate which approach best suits your specific situation. Furthermore, these consultations will help address your concerns about recovery time, cosmetic outcome, and overall effectiveness. In addition, to learn more about all your treatment options and next steps, simply click here.
