TAMPA, Fla. – Traditional treatment for skin cancer – the country’s most prevalent kind of cancer – often involves surgery, which can cause deformity, significant pain, long recovery periods, scarring and discontinuation of medications such as blood thinners.
For the first time in Tampa, starting in July, the surgery alternative electron beam therapy will be offered. ForCare Medical Center will be the second facility in the nation and first in the Tampa area to offer long-awaited bladeless, electron-beam therapy for treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma).
Says Dr. Seth B. Forman, ForCare Medical Center owner, “We are thrilled to offer this innovative new treatment to our patients, a fantastic alternative to surgery.”
With traditional treatment, patients may undergo significant pain, inconvenience and discomfort. These skin cancer patients are often left with noticeable scarring, deformities and functional limitations. Electron beam therapy by IntraOp, the leading innovator in compact electron therapy devices, requires no cutting or downtime and may be less painful than surgery.
“Electron beam therapy is even touchless, in that there doesn’t need to be any direct contact with the doctor or equipment. And patients will not need to stop taking medication such as blood thinners, as they would likely need to if undergoing surgery. Immediately following treatment, patients will be able to play tennis, run, or go back to work without restrictions,” Dr. Forman says.
While electron therapy may be compared to X-ray based technologies, electron therapy provides uniform and precise treatment, with less dosage to underlying healthy tissue. Older style X-ray treatments continue to penetrate into normal tissue, leaving a trail of undesirable exit dose.
Electron-beam therapy, administered by radiation oncologists at ForCare Medical Center, allows precise depth control and tight borders, especially around sensitive areas such as eyelids, lips and ears.
To accommodate the new equipment and medical staff hired, ForCare Medical Center is significantly remodeling its facilities, located at 15416 N. Florida. ForCare is Tampa’s premier skin cancer facility. ForCare Medical Center and ForCare Clinical Research have served the Tampa Bay area for 13 years.
ForCare Medical Center’s physicians and staff are dedicated to providing excellent care, utilizing the most advanced technology and procedures. More information is available at www.ForCareMed.com and by calling 813.960.2400.