A skin cancer diagnosis can be scary — and for a lot of people… the first thing that comes to mind is surgery. The scalpel. The stitches. Time off work. Worrying about a scar on your face, or your ear, or somewhere people will notice. That fear is completely understandable.
But surgery isn’t always your only option. SRT (Superficial Radiation Therapy) is a proven, non-surgical skin cancer treatment alternative recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology.
At Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists, we offer SRT at our Stockton, Yuba City, and Lodi locations to give patients across Northern California every possible path forward.
What is SRT (Superficial Radiation Therapy)?
SRT isn’t new — it’s a well-established form of radiation therapy that has been refined over decades. The basic idea is straightforward: instead of cutting out cancerous skin tissue, we use low-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells right where they live, in the top layers of your skin.
Here’s what actually happens during treatment:
- A precise, low-energy X-ray beam is directed at the cancerous cells — targeted, not scattered
- The radiation penetrates only about 5 mm below the surface, which is right where most skin cancers grow. Deeper tissue, muscle, and bone are completely unaffected
- There’s no cutting, no stitching, no anesthesia — you stay fully awake and comfortable the entire time
- Each session is done right in our office and takes around 15 minutes
- Most patients come in 3 to 5 times per week, over several weeks
You walk in. You get treated. You walk out and go on with your day. That’s genuinely what it looks like for most of our patients.
What Types of Skin Cancer Does SRT Treat?
Superficial radiation therapy for skin cancer is designed specifically for non-melanoma skin cancers that haven’t spread beyond the skin’s surface. The two types it works best for are:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) — the most common type of skin cancer in the country, and one that responds very well to SRT
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) — particularly effective for lesions on the face, nose, ears, and scalp, where keeping a clean cosmetic result really matters
One important note: SRT is not recommended for melanoma. Melanoma behaves differently, and requires a different approach entirely. If that’s what you’re facing, our team handles melanoma treatment as well, and we’ll make sure you’re pointed in the right direction from the very first appointment.
How Does SRT Compare to Mohs Surgery?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and it deserves a straight answer. Mohs surgery is still considered the gold standard for many skin cancers — and for the right patient and the right cancer, it absolutely is. However, SRT vs Mohs surgery isn’t a matter of one being better across the board. It’s about what’s right for your specific situation.
Here’s a side-by-side look:
| Factor | SRT | Mohs Surgery |
| Procedure Type | Non-surgical skin cancer treatment, radiation-based | Surgical excision |
| Scarring | Minimal to none | Possible, depending on location & size |
| Downtime | None — leave and go about your day | Recovery time needed after the procedure |
| Anesthesia | Not required | Local anesthesia needed |
| Sessions | 15–20 short outpatient sessions | Usually completed in one visit |
| Best For | Low-risk BCC/SCC; patients who can’t safely have surgery | High-risk, recurrent, or complex cancers |
| Cure Rate | ~90–95% for appropriate candidates | ~99% (gold standard for complex cases) |
Our team looks at every patient individually. We’ll never push you toward one treatment just because it’s what we happen to offer — we’ll tell you honestly what makes the most sense for your diagnosis, your health, and your life.
Who is a Good Candidate for SRT?
SRT tends to be a great fit for patients who want effective treatment without surgery — whether that’s because surgery carries added risk for them, or simply because they want to avoid downtime and scarring. Specifically, it works well for:
- Adults with low-risk, localized basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma
- Older patients, or anyone on blood thinners or medications that make surgery riskier than usual
- Patients who’ve had trouble with wound healing in the past
- Anyone treating a cancer in a visible spot — the face, scalp, ears, nose — where scarring would be noticeable
- Active people who can’t afford weeks of surgical recovery or wound care restrictions
That said, SRT isn’t for everyone. If your cancer is melanoma, if it’s advanced or has come back after prior treatment, or if it’s spread beneath the skin’s surface, surgery or another approach is likely better suited for you. We’ll be upfront about that from the start.
What to Expect During SRT Treatment
Not knowing what a treatment looks like is one of the worst parts of dealing with a new diagnosis. So here’s exactly how it goes:
Step 1 — Your Consultation: We sit down, review your diagnosis, look at the lesion, and talk through whether radiation therapy for skin cancer without surgery makes sense for you. No pressure. Just information.
Step 2 — Building Your Treatment Plan: Your treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our team calculates the precise radiation dose and penetration depth based on the size, type, and location of your specific tumor.
Step 3 — Treatment Begins: You come in for your sessions — typically 3 to 5 times a week. An applicator is placed near the lesion, the treatment runs for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then you’re done for the day. Most people read, relax, or just breathe.
Step 4 — We Check In Along the Way: A provider is with you at every session. Some redness or mild skin sensitivity is normal as treatment progresses — we monitor it and manage it.
Step 5 — Completion and Follow-Up: Once your sessions wrap up, the skin heals over the following weeks. We schedule a follow-up to confirm the cancer has cleared. That appointment tends to feel like a real moment of relief.
What Are the Side Effects of SRT?
SRT is well-tolerated by most patients, but we want you to know what to realistically expect — not a best-case-only picture:
- The treated area may become red, dry, or mildly sensitive — similar to a sunburn — as sessions continue
- In areas with hair, temporary hair loss at the treatment site is possible
- These effects resolve on their own within a few weeks after treatment ends
- Serious or long-lasting side effects are uncommon when SRT is properly targeted, and the right patient is selected
For most people, the side effects are far less disruptive than recovering from surgery — especially when the cancer is in a sensitive spot on the face or head.
Why Choose Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists?
We’ve been treating skin cancer across Northern California for over 40 years combined. We know that getting this diagnosis can feel overwhelming — and we know that what you need most isn’t a sales pitch. You need a team that listens, explains things clearly, and helps you make the decision that’s right for you.
Here’s what we bring to that:
- We offer SRT for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma at our Stockton, Yuba City, and Lodi locations
- We provide everything under one roof — SRT, Mohs surgery, excision, melanoma treatment, and skin cancer screenings — so your care never gets fragmented
- We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Health Care, Aetna, Cigna, and many others. If you’re not sure about yours, just call us — we’ll check for you. We serve patients with skin cancer treatment in Stockton, CA, Sacramento, Yuba City, Lodi, Marysville, Modesto, Chico, and throughout Northern California
Ready to find out if SRT is the right fit for your situation? Request an appointment or call the location closest to you. We’ll help you figure out your next step — together.
Frequently Asked Questions
You Have More Options Than You Think
A skin cancer diagnosis doesn’t automatically mean you’re headed for surgery. For the right candidate, SRT skin cancer treatment is a medically proven, comfortable, and effective path to getting clear — one that fits into real life without weeks of recovery or worrying about a scar.
At Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists, we take the time to understand your situation before recommending anything. Whether SRT makes sense for you or something else does, we’ll walk you through it honestly. Our teams in Stockton, Yuba City, Sacramento, and Lodi are ready when you are — don’t wait to get checked. Call us today in Yuba City at (530) 599-8703 or book online!
SRT Skin Cancer: Non-Surgical Treatment Option | Adv Derm
Skip surgery with SRT — a proven non-surgical skin cancer treatment for BCC and SCC. Discover how Superficial Radiation Therapy works at Advanced Derm NorCal.
