Mother and Daughter Thrive After Identical Skin Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
August 14, 2024
When Elizabeth Pelletier’s mother, Mary, was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on the side of her nose at age 96, the mother-daughter duo knew they needed to find a convenient, safe and effective treatment option. Elizabeth first scheduled her mom for Mohs surgery, a skin cancer treatment that involved cutting away thin layers of skin, in early January 2024.
“But the surgeon was hesitant to perform the procedure due to the location of the cancer, the expected results, and my mother’s age,” says Elizabeth, age 71, who lives in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey. “We asked about other options, and the Mohs surgeon suggested we look into brachytherapy.”
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that provides precise, noninvasive treatment for skin cancers—including basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas—in areas that would be challenging to treat with Mohs surgery.
“Mohs surgery is an invasive procedure, and some patients are not candidates due to health concerns, medications, previous Mohs procedures, or the potential for scarring in areas such as the side of the nose that contain cartilage,” says Douglas A. Miller, M.D., medical director of Radiation Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “With brachytherapy, we can offer a noninvasive, curative option with no cutting, few side effects and minimal, if any, scarring.”
Brachytherapy Practice Expands After Treatment Successes
Dr. Miller first began offering brachytherapy in 2017. At that time, he was treating about one patient per month. A lot has changed since then.
“The number of patients treated with brachytherapy has grown exponentially over the years, and I’ve treated every body part, from nose to toes,” says Dr. Miller.
However, while brachytherapy has a 97 percent cure rate and delivers outstanding cosmetic results, it isn’t for everyone.
“Brachytherapy can’t be used to treat melanoma, and it isn’t appropriate for patients with lesions larger than 3.5 centimeters or thicker than 1 millimeter,” says Dr. Miller. “That said, it may be appropriate for people with smaller basal cell or squamous cell lesions—especially older people who have had previous Mohs surgery or are unable to have a Mohs procedure.”
‘Priceless’ Access to Convenient, Innovative Care
After learning about the benefits of brachytherapy from Dr. Miller, Elizabeth—who previously had several Mohs procedures for skin cancer—received her results from a biopsy of a lesion on her nose.
“I noticed a lesion on the exact same spot on my nose as my mother’s,” says Elizabeth. “I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma a few weeks after my mom in January 2024, and I decided to have brachytherapy, too.”
Dr. Miller says, “Elizabeth saw how well her mom did and asked her dermatologist to refer her for a brachytherapy. She decided it would also be a great option for her.”
Mary had her first brachytherapy treatment with Dr. Miller at Jersey Shore on January 29, 2024. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Elizabeth started treatment in February. They each had six brachytherapy sessions—twice a week for three weeks—and experienced outstanding results. Each treatment takes five minutes or less.
“It was almost a miracle,” says Elizabeth. “The process was very simple for Mom and me. The treatments were painless and only took a few minutes each time—and the outcome is better than we could have hoped for.”
Other than a bit of sunburn-like redness at the treatment site and a stuffy nose for a few weeks, Elizabeth and her mom experienced no side effects or downtime. Both are extremely happy with the experience and were even able to attend appointments and follow-up visits together.
“I can’t recommend [brachytherapy] enough, and I’ve told many people,” says Elizabeth. “Having access to brachytherapy close to home has been priceless. Dr. Miller and his entire team are fantastic, and Jersey Shore is a great place to get the latest care.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Douglas A. Miller, M.D.
- To make an appointment with a radiation oncologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Make an appointment for a skin cancer screening.
- Learn more about cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
