If malignant cells are detected, more tissue from the affected area is removed. This process is repeated until no more cancer can be found. Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate of any treatment modalities for primary or recurrent lip tumors, 14 with cure rates of 90-100 percent. In one study of 49 patients with SCC of the lip, the five-year cure rate was 92 percent, compared to 80 percent for (non-Mohs) surgical excision and radiation therapy. 14.