If you suspect that you have skin cancer or have recently been diagnosed and were told you need treatment, schedule an appointment with us today. We offer GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT)—the surgery-free, gold-standard treatment for skin cancer. On your first visit, we will review your pathology report, discuss your treatment goals, and work with you to determine the treatment option that best meets your needs
Want to cure your skin cancer without surgery?
GentleCure is a gentle, surgery-free treatment that is safe and has a 99%+ cure rate in basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Treatment is done right in the physician’s office over the course of a few weeks using an advanced Image-Guided SRT machine. It is the only skin cancer treatment with ultra-sound imaging that lets you see the cancer on the screen and review the progress made throughout the course of treatment until there are no visible signs of cancer.
See what to expect with treatment
GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) is designed to treat skin cancer without the discomfort and cosmetic issues often associated with surgery. There is no cutting, surgical scarring, or need for reconstructive surgery, and you can maintain your normal daily activities throughout treatment.
- At each treatment session, you will sit in a chair and ultrasound gel will be applied to the site of the cancer. Using an imaging wand, we will look at a detailed image of your cancer on screen. You can see the image yourself from the comfort of the chair. We will use that image to measure the size and shape of the tumor, calculate the precise dose of treatment, and define the treatment area.
- Once the imaging is complete, the arm of the device will be placed over the treatment site and the exact dose of X-ray energy will be used to treat the cancer site without harming the healthy tissue around it.
- Each treatment session takes about 15 minutes from the time you walk in the door to when you leave the office. You will come back several times a week for short treatment sessions, and in 4-to-7 weeks, treatment will be complete.
GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) has a proven track record that is backed by science and clinical research
At Family Medicine of Michigan, our team of physicians reviewed the published research and here is what we found:
- 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 99.3% 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.
More information about the published research supporting the use of GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) can be found here.
Why we chose to offer GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT)
GentleCure (Image-Guided SRT) is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans
With most insurance plans, you may have to pay some out-of-pocket cost. That cost will depend on your specific health plan coverage and co-pay policy. Before you commit to a treatment option, we will work with your insurance plan to determine the potential cost to you, so you can make an informed treatment decision. If you are worried about affording treatment, let us know and we can discuss our financial assistance options.
Side effects and cosmetic results
When X-ray energy is used to kill cancer cells, your body will replace the dead cancer cells with healthy tissue over time. There is no surgical scarring and no need for reconstructive surgery. There is, however, a small risk of skin atrophy (thinning of the skin) and pigment changes (changes in the color of the skin) at the treatment site. Other potential side effects may include skin inflammation with redness and swelling at the treatment site. Topical creams or ointments can be used over the course of treatment to minimize these side effects, and the side effects usually go away 2-to 6-weeks after treatment is complete. There is also a risk of alopecia (hair loss) in the treated area only.
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.
The skin cancer treatment team at Family Medicine of Michigan
McKenna Thelen, B.S., R.T.(T)
McKenna graduated from Grand Valley State University with her Bachelor’s in Radiation Therapy. She is a board-certified Radiation Therapist that provides Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy (IGSRT) for patients with non-melanoma skin cancer. She utilizes IGSRT as a pain free cure for basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
You can contact McKenna for scheduling/questions at:
517-622-6454
GentleCure ext. 191