HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Skin Cancer

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/24/2018 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone I just got diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma last Thursday when I got the phone call from my dermatologist. I have the Mohs surgery on October 1, 2018. I wish it wasn't so far away. I have been researching it, and I know it's slow growing, but that doesn't make it any less scary for me. My anxiety is really high right now.

I'm sorry that I haven't been around in so long. I got sidetracked, but I'm back now. I look forward to supporting everyone, and getting support.

Chutz It's good to see you back posting again. I missed you. I hope everyone is having as good as can be expected evening.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 8/24/2018 6:27 AM (GMT 0)
Loretta,
I am sorry, but don’t panic. They are really good at getting it and likely you will be just fine. I have had two basal cell carcinomas and two melanomas. I had them removed, which isn’t a big deal, but does leave some big scars. I haven’t had a reoccurrence now for three years.

I stay out of the sun now. I eat healthy and most of all manage my stress, which is why I think I got it.

Distract yourself until your surgery. Wishing you the best,
TN
Posted 8/24/2018 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Loretta:
Just to chime in to share that my mother (a healthy and vibrant 86 years of age) had a successful Moh’s procedure last year on an single/isolated basal cell lesion on her lower leg.

The procedure can be lengthy - the better part of a morning or afternoon. The dermatologist will take tissue shavings of the lesion, millimeter by millimeter. Each shaving will be analyzed by computer aided microscope to detect the presence of cancer cells and the goal of cancer free margins to the lesion. It is the multiple shavings and analysis that are time consuming.

My mother’s leg wound was deep and a bit unsettling to her. It filled by secondary intention (wound bed healing from the bottom up and outside toward the center with fibrin and collagen) within 2 weeks. A year later, you can barely see the scar and she has had no further skin cancer.
Karen
Posted 8/24/2018 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Loretta, sorry to read about the basal cell. However, the above members have given you some excellent information. A friend of my husband's had a spot removed from his nose last summer by this method. They removed it all & he has done great.

Keep busy & the time will go by much faster.
Posted 8/24/2018 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the replies and the information. I have been trying to keep busy, so hopefully I don't think about it so often. I'm not as nervous about it as I was. I just wish the appointment was sooner, but I just have to be patient. sad

I hope you all are having a good day.

Love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 8/25/2018 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Loretta. My DH had MOSE surgery on the tip of his ear several months ago. After keeping the bandage on for 5 days, it required daily changing for 5 weeks. I did it for him as it was hard for him to reach. One thing to consider is to be even more vigilant with covering up and sunscreen to prevent other skin cancer episodes.

Wanna share where your spot is?
Posted 8/25/2018 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Blackbird Thank you for your reply. The cancer is on my right cheek on the ball. It's about 4 or 5 inches below my eye. I am going to get some sunscreen today. I've only been out in the sun one day. I sat in the shade.
Posted 8/25/2018 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have had MOHs surgery 4 times on my face. I did go to a plastic surgeon each time. I do not even have scars showing now. They did different things like lasers on the scars to make them not show.

Don't worry too much. These doctors do this surgery all of the time. Just make sure your doctor has. Check him out!
Posted 8/25/2018 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Loretta,

I've had 3 Moh's surgeries - the 1st on my nose, the 2nd on my temple, and the 3rd on the back of my neck. The numbing shots for the surgery REALLY hurt my nose, so I was pleasantly surprised with the other two - not bad at all. I guess the 1st must have been so much worse because there's hardly any flesh over the bone on your nose. So if you have to have it, I would think your cheek would be a relatively painless place.

I've had probably a hundred precancers frozen off my face, and now have more suspicious spots popping up (blegh) although I'm never without sunscreen, and haven't been since I was 20...being very light-skinned and red-headed has its downsides for sure!

Anyway, good luck with it!

Debbie
Posted 8/26/2018 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you puppylover and Debbie. This is my first MOH surgery. When I had the biopsy, the needle hurt so bad, so that's what I'm not looking forward to. I've read about the surgery, so I know what to expect.

I'm sorry Debbie that you have had so many pre-cancerous spots on your face, and that you have other spots that are suspicious.

What kind of cancer did each of you have?

Thanks
Loretta
Posted 8/26/2018 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Loretta.

Oh, my...I can soooo relate! I had been to a dermatologist recommended to me by a friend that uses them. Skin cancer runs in my family and I am 'of the age'...born before sunscreen...strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes...prime candidate!

My main concern was an area on my forehead that would not heal completely...just scaley and scabby. She took a scraping from there and one from my sternum area, then freeze burned a spot on my nose and one on my upper lip.

They told me it would take one to two weeks for the results of the biopsies. I waited, rather anxiously, but no call came! When I finally called them...the forehead was positive for basal cell and the sternum was 'pre-cancerous'. It was another couple of weeks before the surgery was scheduled.

"Slow growing, non-aggressive" has a completely different meaning to the one that has it!

Dealing with skin cancer is a marathon, not a sprint. I have a few more areas that need attention. Not that I 'want' to find more...but the lid is off of Pandoras box now and every little 'rough patch' can lead to a mental rough patch!

Breathe. Deeply and slowly. I'm here if you need to vent or just talk.

Dana
Posted 8/27/2018 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a couple of tiny BCCs. Really tiny! While waiting for a dermatologist appointment, I got rid of them myself by putting just a small drop of bleach on them a few times a day for 5 to 7 days. They didn't come back and it left no scar, just a little irritated skin for a few days.

This is not a recommended treatment or cure that I know of, so I can't say to try it. Again, my BCCs were tiny. I noticed them at a very small stage. I tried this while waiting for a real appointment with a real doctor. It worked for me but it was only a 1 person experiment.

BCC isn't supposed to spread, so don't get hysterical. Do get it treated because it can get larger!
Posted 8/27/2018 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Loretta,

My carcinomas were all Basal Cell...so I'm really glad for that, at least.

Debbie
Posted 9/2/2018 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Loretta~

Good to see you again too. I'm sorry to hear about your dx. I would think if the doctor is extremely worried he/she would have you in sooner, but I know that doesn't keep you from being worried. I'd be just like you in the same situation. Keep busy and keep posting. It should help some.

Warm HUGS
Chutz
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply