Ochsner Cancer Center - Baton Rouge, a newly renovated building, is located in the Physicians Plaza II building near Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge. With more than 20,000 square feet, our facility features state-of-the-art, innovative treatment options in cancer care, such as 15 personalized and semi-private chemo infusion stations. This is the only cancer program in the Baton Rouge region to conveniently offer a hematology and oncology outpatient health center with both chemotherapy infusion and radiation oncology services on one floor, in the same building.

Our physicians are specialized in all types of cancer, from the most common to the most complex and rare conditions in adults and children. Our team of physicians from multiple disciplines work together to achieve the best outcomes.

Oncologic Dermatology

Our oncologic dermatology services address localized skin cancer lesions as well as metastatic disease. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Skin cancers, if left untreated, can be harmful and disfiguring. However, with early detection and treatment, many can be cured.

When appropriately suited, we work closely with our Mohs' micrographic surgeon who specializes in unique surgical techniques used in the removal of skin cancer. Using this procedure, cancerous areas on the skin are removed in thin pie-shaped pieces and examined immediately under a microscope to determine if all cancerous tissue was removed. This allows the surgeon to know right away whether or not treatment was successful when removing a tumor.

Ochsner Dermatology specialists treat the following oncologic conditions when affecting the skin and surrounding tissues:

• Basal cell skin cancer
• Squamous cell skin cancer
• Malignant melanoma
• B cell lymphoma
• T cell lymphoma
• Angiosarcoma
• Kaposi's sarcoma

As a routine part of our exams, we look for irregularities in the skin that may look to be precancerous growths. By helping patients notice these areas early, treatment can be much more effective.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery Overview

Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective and state-of-the-art procedure for skin cancer today, which offers the highest potential for cure - even if the skin cancer has been previously treated by another method and recurred.

Mohs micrographic surgery is an advanced and effective treatment procedure for skin cancer available today. The procedure is performed by specially trained surgeons who have completed at least one additional year of fellowship training, which is accredited by the American College of Mohs Surgery, under the instruction of a Mohs college member.

Initially developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the Mohs procedure is a state-of-the-art treatment that has been continuously refined over 70 years. With the Mohs technique, physicians are able to see beyond the visible disease, to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor layer by layer while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, it minimizes the chance of re-growth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

Because the physician is specially trained in surgery, pathology and reconstruction, Mohs surgery has the highest success rate of all treatments for skin cancer - up to 99 percent. The Mohs technique is also the treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas as it relies on the accuracy of a microscopic surgical procedure to trace the edges of the cancer and ensure complete removal of all tumors down to the roots during the initial surgery.

Why Does My Skin Cancer Need Mohs Surgery?

Mohs micrographic surgery is primarily used to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas, but can be used to treat less common tumors including melanoma.

Mohs Surgery is appropriate when:

• The cancer is in an area where it is important to preserve healthy tissue for maximum functional and cosmetic result, such as eyelids, nose, ears, lips, fingers, toes, genitals
• The cancer was treated previously and recurred
• Scar tissue exists in the area of the cancer
• The cancer is large
• The edges of the cancer cannot be clearly defined
• The cancer is growing rapidly or uncontrollably

View a Virtual Tour of the Mohs Clinic

View a Virtual Tour of the PET/CT scan room