Actually, I might have the GOOD cancer

Good luck. I've had several taken off and they are all worrisome. They did the MOHS procedure and got it the second time around.

I had a small biopsy from the corner of me eyelid a few months ago. The dermatologist said she'd send me to a plastic surgeon/dermatologist (a specialist specialist) if it came back positive. It came back negative so I got off easy. I hope you are as lucky.
Jim

I'm not too worried about it. My doc is quite sure it isn't melanoma.

Mel

Skin cancer, like prostate cancer,apparently has many different faces. Two weeks ago, I had a chunk of my ear cut off by a dermatologist. After several biopsies determined my ear scabs were only squamous cells rather than basil cells, which I guess made it less bad ...you get it. She sent me to a surgeon who used mohs surgery to cut it off and do another biopsy. Geez I am really tired of doctors.

My wife just told me to give credit to the MOHS surgeon. She actually cut a chunk out of my ear and grafted skin from my neck so that the ear has already healed up looking pretty good.

Post Edited (lifeguyd) : 8/1/2016 8:34:09 PM (GMT-6)

Ive had a couple basals cut off by my GP. If I ever had ione on my face I'd go to somebody who knows how to cut pretty.

Now...I get checked twice a year (lots of sun) by a dermatologist.

Last week he burnt off 2 "pre-squamous cell" lesions. I asked him what would happen if we didn't. He said 15 to 20 percent will go on to the real deal.

I also asked him if he ever saw anyone die from basal cell. He said, " One guy. Came in and it was on the side of his face. The size of a grapefruit."

I remember the first visit I ever had with a dermatologist (a week or two after I got diagnosed with MM).
Dr: "I can look at you and see that you have 3 of the 4 common risk factors for skin cancer.
Me: "Oh? What are they?"
Dr: Fair/freckled skin, blonde to red hair (I was strawberry blonde before I went gray), Blue or green eyes.
Me: OK, what's the 4th?
Dr: I expect the answer is yes, because we're about the same age and grew up before we knew better. Did you, even once, sunburn to a blister and peel?
Me: Every summer, sometimes more than once.

Thats exactly what Im talking about...right above me there. Im betten it ain't even basel...nose is common fro precancerous lesions and the ears....sunscreen... hats are good for prevention even in winter...

Jack:


BCC, which is what I am referring to, is indeed the GOOD CANCER.
It's cure rate is like 95%-99.5%, depending on which article/methodology you read.
It almost never metastacizes.

Unfortunately, you really can't just leave it alone as it will grow in the surrounding area and cause problems.

I have had this spot for 6-12 months. It has not visibly grown, but my doc says it will, and it could be deeper than I think -- although it is typically in the outer layer of the skin.

BCC is the GOOD cancer.

SKIN cancer is a good cancer, as long as it is not melanoma or merkel cell carcinoma. My Dad passed away at age 97 from this rare skin cancer. He survived PC (had it for 20 years -- underwent an orchectomy, which was 30+ years ago -- AS or even G-scores were not around at that time).

Mel

Perhaps two sides of the same coin.

JNF:

Well, maybe we are getting into semantics.

What makes cancer bad? Answer: it can metasticize and go to vital areas and cause those areas to fail, which makes it BAD.

BCC supposedly cannot metasticize.
Maybe it should not be defined as true cancer?

Anyway, I should know more about my specific situation tomorrow.

Mel

Jack:

Don't know yet.
Appointment with plastic surgeon tomorrow.
Not sure if he will:

1) Just look at it and set up a future visit

2) Do a Biopsy

3) Just remove it

I think the answer is insurance contingent!

Mel