CompletedNot Applicable

Experience of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) Mohs Surgery Project

United States16 participantsStarted 2011-07

Plain-language summary

Mohs surgery excises non-melanoma skin cancer tumors of the head and neck while preserving maximum healthy tissue, an advantageous characteristic when dealing with the cosmetic and functional cervifacial region. Yet, treatment can result in changes to function and appearance with effects on quality of life. This project uses Grounded Theory to explore the Mohs surgery experience of NMSC patients who have head and neck lesions through interview and observation of the surgical appointment.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient participants must have an upcoming Mohs surgery scheduled or have already undergone Mohs surgery within the University of Pennsylvania Health System. * All participants must read and speak English. * For those patient participants with communication impairments due to surgery and treatment, accomodations for alternate methods of communication, including typing responses to the interview guide into a laptop computer or writing responses with a pen on paper, will be provided. * Both male and female * Must read and speak English * Be over the age 18 and able to give consent. Exclusion Criteria: * This study excludes patients and their partners who are incapacitated or not old enough to give consent, more specifically those under the age of 18.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of Adverse Events

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01452984

SponsorAbramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2013-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer trials