Today was very fun! I learned about kinds of skin cancer and how to remove them. I shadowed Dr. Housman at her practice, which mostly removes skin cancer embedded in people’s skin.
The cancer these people had was called Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. These cancers aren’t fatal if they are removed when they are first noticed on the skin. So, no chemotherapy is necessary for these types. The way that Dr. Housman removes the skin cancer is really fascinating. She uses Mohs Micographic Surgery method. She explained to me the very specific and detailed steps, and how successful this surgery is on getting all of the cancer removed.
Dr. Housman let me assist on two procedures after I had seen a few! I helped blot the blood away on the patient’s skin when she or the surgical assistant was stitching up the wound, I handed tools to the person stitching, and I held the extra suture out of the way while she was stitching. I had never done something like that before, so I am very thankful I got that experience!